CKTB News, 97.7 HTZ-FM, and Dream 105.7 helped raise over $40,000 for flood relief in Niagara, as part of a region-wide Day of Giving in support of FEED Niagara.
The Niagara Region was hit with nearly 300 millimetres of rain over a week and a half this summer, flooding homes, businesses, and roads and prompting local states of emergency. As recovery efforts continue, local food banks have seen demand climb sharply.
On August 12, Whiteoaks’ three St. Catharines stations dedicated the broadcast day to the cause, joining forces with surrounding regions for a collective effort. Listeners were asked to donate through a special fund set up in partnership with the Niagara Community Foundation, with proceeds going directly to FEED Niagara’s flood relief programs and its member food banks across the region. More than 160 community members and businesses generously donated throughout the day.
“It proves the importance of local radio,” said Betty-Lou Souter, CEO of Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold, a FEED Niagara member serving one of the hardest-hit areas. “I know we will continue to benefit from the spinoffs in the weeks to come, of which there will be many. We have been the talk of the town all day. Thank you for sharing our story far and wide.”
The teams at CKTB News, HTZ-FM, and Dream 105.7 had been covering the flooding and its aftermath for weeks leading into the Day of Giving, with many employees at the three stations dealing with the same flood damage and urgent needs as listeners and neighbours. That groundwork showed on August 12. Hosts across the three stations spent the day pushing the fund throughout their programming and on social media, turning ongoing coverage into a call-to-action listeners were ready to answer.
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“We knew the Niagara community would step up, but we’re blown away by the response,” said David Vandersteen, Manager of FEED Niagara. “To see people affected by these storms, people dealing with their own recovery efforts, stepping up to support our programs and our member food banks is incredible. It’s what Niagara is all about.”
Days like this are what local radio does best: showing up for their communities when it matters most. For CKTB News, HTZ-FM, and Dream 105.7, the Day of Giving is one more example of what happens when local media and local need meet in real time.
Donations to FEED Niagara’s flood relief fund are still being accepted at the Niagara Community Foundation.
