THE 2009 TV6 CANATHON!
The TV6 Canathon has had an enormous impact on the community since the event began back in 1982. That first effort resulted in 700 pounds of food being donated to the first TV6 Canathon. The annual donations have grown considerably since that first event with the 2008 TV6 Canathon collecting approximately 111,000 pounds of food.
In 1990 the TV6 Canathon has experienced a big change. We adopted the slogan “help feed a hungry neighbor” and expanded collection efforts to include 10 Upper Michigan Counties. This could only be achieved by partnering with a number of local organizations and radio stations. In 2009, those partners will include: WYKX/WDBC (Allan Gibbs) in Delta County, Y101 (Jackie Dobbins) in Ontonagon County, Eagle Country Radio/The Rockin’ Eagle (Deb Hilscher) in Baraga, Houghton and Keweenaw Counties, St. Vincent DePaul Society and Salvation Army in Marquette County, The Munising News (Willy Peterson) in Alger County, St. Vincent DePaul in Iron County, plus the Good Neighbor Food Pantry in Schoolcraft County, the City of Ironwood (Bob Tervonen) and the Cities of Wakefield and Bessemer (John Siira) in Gogebic County, WJNR/WOBE/WHTO (Trisha Peterson) in Dickinson County, and the NMU Volunteer Center on Northern Michigan University’s campus. In conjunction with the staff at TV6, these individuals and their organizations work very hard to guarantee the continued success of the TV6 Canathon by organizing and/or promoting local food collection efforts in their communities. With the help of these organizations and radio stations, plus the continued generosity of all those who take the time to make a donation, the TV6 Canathon has collected over 2.4 million pounds of food for the needy since the event began.
Once the food is collected, it is distributed through St. Vincent DePaul Society and Salvation Army food banks and food pantries affiliated with various local churches. The thing that makes the TV6 Canathon so special to area residents is that all food collected in any given community stays in that community to help feed their hungry neighbors.
With the current state of our economy, the need is expected to be greater than ever in 2009. And it is through your generosity that the TV6 Canathon is able to offer assistance to the needy in our communities. Our heartfelt thanks goes out to all those who take a moment to make a donation.
The 2009 TV6 Canathon officially kicks-off on Monday, November 9, with collection continuing across Upper Michigan through Thursday, December 3. The month long collection effort wraps up with a one-hour, commercial free special program “live” from TV6 starting at 7:00 p.m./6:00 CT on Thursday, December 3. The program will include “live” reports from Marquette, Escanaba, Iron Mountain and Houghton. The TV6 Canathon Program will feature many of the people involved with the collection efforts, and a grand total of food collected across Upper Michigan during the event will be announced. The public is invited to bring their donations to TV6 on December 3 between 7:00-8:00 p.m. EST and be part of our program. Come and join us as we celebrate the 2009 TV6 Canathon!
If you have any questions, please contact TV6 Canathon Director Scott Zerbel at 1-800-562-9776,
1-906-475-4161 or send an e-mail to szerbel@wluctv6.com.
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