“Buy a Box” Campaign
KOKE-FM / The HORN Radiothon Simulcast
Benefiting The Central Texas Food Bank
(Austin, TX - April 14, 2020) - - The Austin Radio Network, home to KOKE-FM (98.5/99.3-FM), The HORN (104.9/KTXX 101.9-FM/1260-AM/KTAE) and 105.3 The Bat (KTXX-HD4-K287FG) are joining forces with The Central Texas Food Bank for the "Buy a Box" campaign.
The fund drive kicked off Monday, with the pinnacle happening Wednesday, April 15 from 8:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. Bob Cole from "KOKE in the Morning" and Bucky Godbolt of "Mornings with Bucky & Erin" will host a 2-hour radiothon simulcast on all Austin Radio Network frequencies, hornfm.com, kokefm.com, 1053thebat.com and through the three station apps. Guests will include University of Texas head football coach Tom Herman, County Commissioner Jeff Travillion and head UT men's basketball coach Shaka Smart.
The “Buy a Box” campaign urges listeners to donate $30 for a 28-lb emergency food box containing 23 meals consisting of proteins, dairy, fruits, and vegetables.
"Our group is proud to partner with the Central Texas Food Bank in the "Buy a Box" campaign," says Erin Hogan, PD and Morning Host on The Horn. “Austin is an entertainment-centric city, and the jobs that have been lost are in the thousands. When they cancelled South by Southwest, that's when we knew this thing was going to have a huge impact.”
Central Texas Food Bank has seen over a 200% demand increase from February to March in Travis County alone. This has translated to more than 7,000 additional households that have not turned to CTFB before. The Food Bank has converted their operation to emergency food boxes that are given out in drive-through or drop-and-grab settings to maximize social distancing.
"This is an unprecedented time in our community," says ARN Operations Director/PD KOKE-FM, Eric Raines. "Our radio stations feel it is especially important to raise money and awareness for the Central Texas Food Bank due to the ever growing need in our area. We are proud to put all the force of the Austin Radio Network behind this drive."
The Central Texas Food Bank is the largest hunger relief organization in Central Texas, serving our community for 39 years and currently serving 21 counties.
“The Central Texas Food Bank is doing everything we can to help our neighbors who are facing hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Derrick Chubbs, President & CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank. “But our resources are stretched to the limit. That’s why we’re so thankful to our friends and partners at the Austin Radio Network and their listeners for raising much-needed donations that will help us keep the food assistance coming during this difficult situation.”
The fund drive runs through April 30, 2020. Donations can be made at centraltexasfoodbank.org/box or by texting the word FOOD to 512-451-KOKE.
Details
April 15, 2020
Central Texas Food Bank