Our Food-A-Bago Food Drive Is One Week Away

Wow, it's that time of the year again. Time for our annual Food-A-Bago food drive to benefit families in Broome County through Broome County CHOW (Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse.)

If my mind is working correctly today, and we know sometimes it isn't, this would be our 19th year for the Food-A-Bago food drive. It began with solely with 99.1 The Whale as our then morning personality, Steve Willett took up residence in a camper in the parking lot of a local supermarket for a week and a day, with the intention of our listeners stopping by throughout the week with non-perishable food items to place in the camper to help families in need in Broome County.

The idea was to fill up the camper, essentially giving Steve no more room to take up residence. And out listeners came through year after year. Well, after a couple of moves to different supermarket parking lots and after Steve and his family moved out of the area, we changed things up slightly, adding out sister radio stations to the food drive and taking turns with all our personalities to spend time in the camper, accepting food and monetary donations.

It continues to be a huge success and it's all due to people like you, who understand that anyone at anytime can suddenly find themselves in a difficult situation where they needs assistance. I've heard that from so many people over these past two decades. One day you are doing just fine, and then, a job loss or medical issue has put a huge strain on your finances, and you need a little help. That's what Broome County CHOW is there for.

And our goal is to help get food items on the warehouse shelves or through a monetary donation, which by the way, allows Broome County CHOW the ability to purchase five meals for every dollar donated. We can't do it without you. It's that simple.

So, beginning Monday November 2nd through the 9th, we will join with Music for The Mission, Planning With Purpose, GHS Federal Credit Union, Gary's U-Pull it and 21st Century Pools & Spas in a camper provided by Oliver's Campers of Norwich, in the parking lot of the Weis Food Market parking lot, 1290 Upper Front Street Binghamton, hoping to see your smiling face and either a monetary donation of any kind or any non-perishable food item(s) you can drop off.

During hours we are not in the camper, you can drop off your non-perishable food items in CHOW barrels located next to the camper and at Gary's U-Pull It on Colesville Road, Binghamton and 21st Century Pools & Spas on the Vestal Parkway.

Thanks in advance for your donations, and we look forward to seeing you. Due to the pandemic, we will be practicing social distancing, and will be placing all non-perishable food items in the Broome County CHOW truck. Checks can be made out to Music For the Mission. All food and money donations will go to Broome County CHOW.