Hungry revelers are pulling out grandma’s recipe cards, stocking up at the supermarket, and laying in supplies for what they hope will be a glorious Thanksgiving feast next week. Sadly, not everyone has the resources or capacity to join in the tradition of good times and good food with family and friends. Fortunately, a hearty band of broadcasters and thousands of their listeners refuse to stand on the sidelines and see those people suffer needlessly or spend the holiday with nothing.
For more than two decades…20+ years…the on air personalities and team mates at 97.5 Y-Country Radio have asked their loyal listeners to step up to the window and help feed hungry people through their annual “Stuff-A-Truck” campaign that garners massive quantities of good things to help brighten the holidays for hundreds of less fortunate residents among us.
Since before the first light of day back on Monday when Morning Drive Guy Matt Malone cranked open the mic with his first appeal through this coming Saturday the rally cry is going up to head to Roger’s Foodland on Hollywood Road in Royalton T0wnship to help stuff multiple trucks to re-stock the warehouse and pantry at the Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency. Malone and fellow announcers Brad Allen, Paul Layendecker, and Award-Winning People’s Choice honoree Lindsay Kay are pulling duty throughout the week.
You can join the effort personally by heading down there with a fistful of cash or by shopping the aisles at Roger’s for items to place aboard the trucks headed to those in need. Here’s what the SWM Community Action Agency hopes you’ll find room in your heart to provide this year:
SUGGESTED ITEMS TO DONATE FOR STUFF A TRUCK:
- “Non-perishable” food products including:
- Canned goods: Veggies, tuna, fruit, soups etc.
- Boxed food: Pasta, mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese, coffee, juice
- Baking Products: Flour, sugar, salt, vanilla, baking soda, baking powder, cake mixes, brownies, corn meal, cooking oil
- Personal Hygiene Products: Shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, bar soap, lotion, laundry detergent, toothpaste, tooth brushes, mouthwash and hair supplies
- Baby Products: Diapers, wipes, baby food, and formula
- Paper Products: Toilet paper, paper towels, facial tissue, tin foil
Y-Country Stuff A Truck is proudly sponsored by:
- Boelcke Heating & Air Conditioning. They’re not comfortable ‘til you are.
- Honor Credit Union. Come be part of it.
- Mid-County Lawn and Garden in St. Joseph and Bridgman
- Luke Brown and Vicki Holt at L.P.L. Financial.
- Truck sponsor, LeValley Chevrolet, Buick, GMC.
- Tote board sponsor, Adent’s Landscape Supply
- Medic 1 Ambulance. When lives are in the balance, the trained professionals of Medic 1 are there.
You can also help the Y-Country air team tear down the Wausau Homes Wall of Hunger for families in need. Stop at Roger’s to stuff the truck anytime by Saturday November 18th and listen for their live broadcasts on 97.5 Y-Country. They also offer up special thanks to Packaging Logic Inc., United Container Company and Pizza Hut.
Earlier today the Y-Country effort had already racked up more than 3 truckloads of food and was approaching $1,000 in cash donations on top of that.
Meanwhile, the 27th annual Michigan Harvest Gathering campaign raised $263,000 and 761,926 pounds of food that equates to 2.3 million meals for hungry residents and children across Michigan this year.
Created in partnership with Attorney General Bill Schuette and his wife, Cynthia, and the Food Bank Council of Michigan, Michigan Harvest Gathering increases Michigan’s emergency food response and improves food insecurity across the state.
Schuette says, “The Michigan Harvest Gathering is our way to help feed those who are in need across the state.” He adds, “Since 1991, we’ve raised nearly 10 million pounds of food and $10 million to stock the shelves and pantries of Michigan food banks.”
In the past 27 years, Michigan Harvest Gathering has raised $10.4 million and over 11 million meals for Michigan.
Dr. Phil Knight, executive director of the Food Bank Council of Michigan, says “Hunger is stoppable and food insecurity will meet its match. As a state, we need to come together to end hunger and create a food secure Michigan.”
Michigan Secretary of State offices are also collecting non-expired, non-perishable food donations through November 22nd.
For more information on the Michigan Harvest Gathering, you can visit fbcmich.org.
Launched in 1991, Michigan Harvest Gathering is an annual statewide campaign that raises food and funds for Michigan’s emergency food response.
