17th annual Hungerthon raises $125,000
Annual radio-thon helps support 416 children on the Backpack Program
Ozarks Food Harvest and iHeartMedia’s 17th annual radio-thon, Hungerthon, raised $125,380 to support 416 children on the Weekend Backpack Program. The program provides hungry children with nutritious, child-friendly food items to take home over the weekends.
Kevin Howard and Liz Delany of 105.9 KGBX hosted the four day radio-thon. Since 1999, nearly $1.5 million has been raised through Hungerthon. This year, Hungerthon moved from Alice 95.5 to 105.9 KGBX.
Several backpacks were matched by community businesses and foundations including SGC Foodservice, MassMutual Financial Group, The Musgrave Foundation,CoxHealth, Prime Inc., Peck’s Insurance & Financial Services, Taylor Communications, Colwell Captures, Huff Distributing, Nancy Jester, Ron & Janice Penney and Yahweh’s Place of Cedarville, MO.
Event sponsors included Family Pharmacy, Sonic and Studio 417 Salon. Power Hour sponsors included Krispy Kreme, Coyote’s Adobe Cafe, May Motor Company, Bambino’s and B2, Big Whiskey’s, Academy of Hair Design, McKowen Family Dental, Shaila’s Boutique, The Order at Hotel Vandivort, Fire & Ice and Edible Arrangements.
Fifty-one southwest Missouri schools participate in the Weekend Backpack Program, which distributes nearly 56,000 bags annually.
Pledges can still be made to support kids on the Backpack Program. For a donation of $300, or $25 monthly, a child will receive two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, two snacks and drinks every weekend of an entire school year. Call Ozarks Food Harvest for more information, or give securely online.