North Huntingdon retiree helping the needy

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When Thomas Hempel of North Huntingdon retired last year from his medical equipment sales job, he wanted to do something to help others.

“Around Thanksgiving, God and I went back and forth on what he wanted me to do for the rest of my life on earth,” Hempel, 62, said.

From that spiritual conversation, Hempel said he decided that his mission was to help people in need in the community.

Creating Tom’s Turkeys before Thanksgiving to provide grocery store gift cards was “a way for me to do that,” Hempel said.

While North Huntingdon has newer housing plans, the township has people who face financial struggles and children who get their meals at school.

“These are people, through no fault of their own, just run into circumstances … layoffs, underemployment. Whatever it might be, they are having a hard time right now,” Hempel said.

His efforts helped about 20 families in the area over the Christmas holiday with $50 gift cards. Some families, depending on their size and need, received gift cards in larger amounts, Hempel said, or a second $50 gift card. The cards are redeemable at ALDI because it does not sell tobacco products or alcohol, he added.

Hempel said he has raised between $4,000 and $5,000 in the past two months. The donations have come from people who believe in what he is doing, he said.

“I know a lot of people and a lot of people in the area who are willing to help and support” the initiative, he said.

To identify families in need, Hempel has relied on the North Huntingdon police and other people he knows.

He is seeking donations in the new year because the need remains long after the holiday decorations are removed.

“I still want to go forward by helping other people,” Hempel said.

There are so many families “who have fallen on tough times,” said Dawn Snyder of the William Snyder Funeral Home Inc. of Irwin, which has helped Hempel identify families in need. “That’s super-nice what Tom is doing.”

Hempel said he is creating a nonprofit so he can continue his mission. To contribute, checks can be issued to Tom’s Turkeys and mailed to S&T Bank, 309 Main St., Irwin, Pa. 15642.

Tom’s Turkey could have a sister initiative in the future. Hempel is considering creating food pantries in the community, but is not yet ready to unveil those details.

“We want to help,” Hempel said.