The community Christmas Basket fund drive has been scheduled for Friday, December 1, 2006, marking the 20th year WTBG-FM has
hosted the project.
Donations totaling more than $20,000 will be necessary to
fund more than 300 food and toy baskets assembled by volunteers, said County
Mayor Franklin Smith who co-sponsors the charity event. Smith said that if listeners are as
generous as last year that shouldn’t be a problem. Just over $27,000 was
collected last December, a record for the event that has seen Haywood Countians
give nearly $400,000 over the years.
All the money donated is used to buy food and toys.
Former morning talk show host Paul Jackson, who originally
anchored the Christmas basket broadcast, will return to the air, along with
current hosts Keith Sherley, Drew Magruder, Rita Hathcock and Pam McCuan.
Special guests, local officials and community supporters always drop in to lend
support to the effort.
“Our
listeners have never let us down,” station manager Carlton Veirs said.
The baskets will be delivered December 16, again using
volunteer help. Smith organizes the delivery system, which utilizes volunteers
who show up with their trucks and cars and usually have all the presents
delivered in just a few hours.
The program airs from 7:15 a.m. to noon December 1. Contributors make pledges by calling on the air at 731-772-3200 or 731-772-3500. Off-air and anonymous pledges are received on the station’s business line at 731-772-3700.