December 15, 2022
Year-round, local TV and radio stations support neighbors in need with drives and fundraising for necessities such as food, clothing, books and toys. This holiday season, broadcasters are helping their communities ensure every family can have everything they need to make special memories.
The Nexstar Media Charitable Foundation and Indianapolis Nexstar Media stations FOX 59 and CBS 4 donated $5,000 each to two food banks serving the area, Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana and Midwest Food Bank of Indiana. On the same day, FOX 59 held a day-long event with Financial Center First Credit Union to benefit the food banks, encouraging viewers to donate either by texting, calling or via the station’s website.
These efforts are part of the annual “Pack the Pantries” project to help local food pantries stock their shelves. The donations will be used to help each food bank continue to provide vitally needed food and supplies to families and fight food insecurity throughout central Indiana.
“The number of families in central Indiana who are experiencing hunger and food insecurity is staggering,” said Dominic Mancuso, vice president and general manager, FOX59 and CBS4. “Year after year, we prioritize the ‘Pack the Pantries’ project to help community organizations provide some relief to those who need it most. Supporting these local food banks is core to the company’s mission.”
The annual Steve Harvey Morning Show Turkey Giveaway has donated nearly 110,000 turkeys across the country since it started in 2009. Greenville, S.C., station 96.3 The Block., 97.1 QMG in Greensboro, N.C., 95.7 R&B in Norfolk, Va., and 106.5 The Beat in Richmond, Va., delivered meals to over 800 families during this year’s event. “It’s an honor and a privilege for all of us at ‘The Steve Harvey Morning Show’ to help those in need,” said Steve Harvey. “Happy Thanksgiving and God bless you all this holiday season.”
Hearst-owned Baltimore stations WBAL-TV, WBAL NewsRadio 1090 AM and 101.5 FM and 98 Rock partnered with the Baltimore Ravens for their annual Family Food and Funds Drive to benefit the Maryland Food Bank on Giving Tuesday. Donations helped raise more than $472,000 to help the Maryland Food Bank continue its mission, and the WBAL-TV phone bank alone raised more than $121,000.
Cumulus Media’s 104.3 WZYP-FM in Huntsville, Ala., brought 104 turkeys to local families in need this Thanksgiving with the first annual Tory’s Turkey Drop. “With the rising cost of living, we wanted to make sure that our neighbors struggling to feed their families this year had a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner,” said midday host Tory Wuycheck, who spearheaded the promotion. “Thanks to the generosity of our partner Landers McLarty Nissan, we were able to buy and distribute 104 turkeys for area families in need.”
“As a local radio station, our job is to entertain and inform the local community, but the most rewarding and important part of what we do is to give back to the community,” said John Lewis, vice president and market manager, Cumulus Huntsville. “I could not be prouder of Tory and the WZYP team for their continued efforts to give back to the Huntsville community!”
From November 12-22, Cox Media Group Atlanta’s stations partnered with the Atlanta Community Food Bank for food drives at Publix locations. The stations collected 11,356 pounds of food and raised thousands of dollars in monetary donations, totaling 26,627 meals for the food insecure individuals in Georgia.
“Listeners and fans of Cox Media Group’s Atlanta radio stations showed up strong to support the stations’ food and fund drives this year. We are grateful to the fans as well as the radio personalities and team members who made this year’s events such a huge success,” said Kyle Waide, president and CEO, Atlanta Community Food Bank. “As we continue to face increased need for food assistance among our neighbors, the food and funds donated by the fans will make a big difference in the lives of so many.”
Audacy Milwaukee radio station 99.1 The Mix held a Stuff the Bus event November 23 to benefit Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, which provides meals to children, seniors, veterans and families. They gathered donations during the holiday event to provide at least 74,515 meals this holiday season.
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