MacDonald Garber Helps Feed N. Michigan

• The Covid-19 crisis has hit Northern Michigan very hard, putting tremendous pressure on area food banks. So MacDonald Garber Broadcasting stations decided it was time to help. The week of May 18 became “Feeding Northern Michigan Week,” and Top 40 WKHQ (106KHQ), AC WLXT (Lite 96.3) & Adult Hits WZTC (104.5 Bob FM)/Traverse City, and Country WLXV (96.7 The Bull)/Cadillac, MI joined forces to fill the pantries of The Manna Food Project, Father Fred Foundation and Feeding America Northwest Michigan.

All of the group’s on-air personalities got involved on a personal level, talking to listeners and finding ways to encourage donations. Robby Bridges, PD of 106KHQ, said, “Radio can make a big difference in the communities they serve and it was extra special to see the listeners of a heritage top 40 like 106 KHQ help us help others!” Mark Elliott of the Lite 96.3 Breakfast Show added, “It’s not easy right now, with lots of folks hurting and needing help. Any other time, I would have parked myself and the mic on top of a truck in some parking lot asking for food donations, but we couldn’t do that… I can’t thank our listeners and advertisers enough for their support and donations to our ‘virtual’ food drive.”

The event was coordinated by MGB Operations Manager Diane Shannon Hansell, who remarked, “I really wanted to raise $10,000 — but once we started on air, the communities all came to together, and we now have $16,398 to give to area food banks. I’m so grateful to the staff for getting behind this and our to listeners and corporate partners for being so generous. It truly was amazing.”