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Oii ne From page 1be sponsoring a Thanksgiving dinner.“Since they weren’t doing it, we decided to give it a try, even though there were oniy two weeks left ’til Thanksgiving,” Wehr recalled. “The first couple of years were the hardest years for us. Now we have everything down. We know how much to order and have the bus schedule down.”Wehr credits his friends for donating time and money to get the dinner off the ground during the first couple of. years. Even now, when many residents and businesses regularly donate to the St. Joseph dinner, Wehr’s friends still come through when funds are a little short.Six years ago, the Lawrence County Caring Foundation ¥ stepped in as co-sponsor of the event. Attendance has grown since the first year from 300 to more than 900 last year.Wehr, who has been canteen manager at the Youth Development Center for the past 10 years, doesn’t limit his volunteer work to the Thanksgiving dinner.As a lifetime member of St. Joseph The Worker Church, he has always given his time to efforts there. He is also involved with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, is a board member of the Shenango Athletic Association, and the Lawrence County Caring Foundation.“Basically, you can say I’m for the underdog,” Wehr confessed. “If anybody needs help and I can help them, I try. It’s just a warm feeling to know that you’re helping somebody out, seeing the expressions on their faces.”Joanne Pelletier, a good friend and co-worker of Wehr’s, helps him to organize the Thanksgiving dinner.“Butch, he’s got a heart for everything,” she said. “He’s one of the most giving persons that I know. One of the big functions of his life is giving and he works hard ... and gives from the heart.It’s a real pleasure working with him.”Wehr said that he inherited hischaritable nature.The middle child of five siblings and the only boy, Wehr was born to Bertha and Arthur “Dale” Wehr. Arthur died in 1982, while Bertha lives in Youngstown.“We were raised as good churchgoers,” said the 1969 Shenango High School graduate. “Dad was a generous man. He always gave donations.”Wehr added that he and his wife, Sherry, have tried to instill the same values in their own children.Nikki, 17, is involved with St. Joseph Church had been a candy striper at Jameson Hospital. She also volunteers for Contact Ears.Alisa, 15, is a CCD teacher’s aide at St. Joseph and donates time to the American Cancer Society.Sherry is involved with the Shenango Area Lioness Club and is a board member of the ShenangoAthletic Association.“My wife and girls take all the phone calls about the dinner and come down on Thanksgiving day to help every year,” Wehr said. “It’s hard on my family sometimes. We haven’t eaten Thanksgiving dinner at home for, well, this will be the ninth year. I really appreciate all their support.”Wehr said that there are so many volunteers he would like to thank for helping with the Thanksgiving dinner. However, as he tried to mention names, he became apprehensive about leaving someone out.“I want to thank everyone who makes this dinner possible each year, including all the volunteers - from the pie makers to those who help prepare the food and those who help to clean up afterwards.”And if the growth of the dinner is any indication, it’s likely there will plenty to clean up this year.DIAL 654-6651 for WANT ADS
Newspaper Details
New Castle News Holiday
New Castle, Pennsylvania, US
Thu, Nov 23, 1995
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 19 Dec 2020
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