Heroes Help Ohio

WKYC is joining forces with the Cleveland Foodbank once again to collect much needed food for those in need in Cleveland as well as bring awareness to the Cleveland Foodbank and all they do for Northeast Ohio.

Last year, WKYC and the Cleveland Foodbank banded together to be part of one of the most successful days the Foodbank ever had by setting record breaking numbers in food donations.

This year, "Heroes Help Ohio" will take place Thursday, October 22 in the WKYC front parking lot between 5 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

The hope is to surpass the amount of food donated last year as well as collect new or slightly used coats for the "Coats for Kids" program and holiday gifts for the Salvation Army.

Please, come on down and bring non-perishable food donations, a cash-donation, or coats or holiday gifts and help make someone's holiday a bit brighter this year.

Spread the word at your school, church, community group, PTA, or any group you are involved with and urge them to participate as well!

Hope to see you down at wkyc on October 22nd!

Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

Today's Hidden Gem: Harvest for Hunger

The 2009 Harvest for Hunger Campaign kicks off Friday, February 27 and may be one of the most crucial campaigns ever in light of today's economic windfalls.

This year's event takes place at Tower City Center at the grand staircase in the heart of downtown Cleveland Friday beginning at 11am. Join the 2009 co-chairs Terrance C. Z. Egger of the Plain Dealer and Fred Nance of Squire, Sanders, & Dempsey L.L.P. Mayor Frank Jackson, and County Commissioners Jimmy Dimora, Tim Hagan, and Peter Lawson Jones should be on hand to share their thoughts on why this program is essential to Northeast Ohio's hunger relief ventures.

Believe it or not, Harvest for Hunger has been touted as one of the largest hunger relief efforts in the nation.

You can make a donation or drop off food at your local food pantry.

Many local grocery stores band together and make it quite easy to help this cause. While you are shopping for yourself or your family, you can remember those less fortunate who can not. In the check out line, you can make a dollar, 5 dollar or ten dollar donation added to your tab.

Most local television, radio, and newspapers get the word out on this state-wide project to gain as much attention as possible in giving assistance to those who need it most and to those who HELP those in need such as the local food pantries.

There are many charities out there. I've touched on this before. As many people blanket the earth is as many charities present in our world. Some never touch our lives. But, I bet that every person reading this entry knows someone down on their luck. Maybe they've been laid off or fired, lost their house in a foreclosure case, can't really afford the rising utility bills, gas for the car, or have charged their credit cards to the max to pay for essentials.

I'm sure Clevelanders will shine through yet again. We always do!

The great thing about Harvest for Hunger is that the money stays here, and helps our neighbors and friends.

I know we each have our favorite charities. I wanted to make Harvest for Hunger this week's Hidden Gem to get the word out. Clevelanders need to come through to help Harvest for Hunger beat last year's tally and achieve this year's goal of 2.7 million dollars.

Honestly, we never know when WE will be that someone turning for help at a local food bank, a hot meal program, or an area shelter. Just think about it....

Thank you, Cleveland!

As 'Swing by and spray' reported first Thursday evening, the Cleveland Foodbank and Channel 3 Food Drive surpassed all expectations!

The Foodbank people say they believe this was the largest one-day food drive in this area!

The final tally stands at over 10,000 pounds of food collected along with $4000. Foodbank personnel estimate that figure equalling between 21,000 and 23,000 meals for those in need in Northeast Ohio.

I've said this in previous 'Hidden Gem' features but it needs repeating. Clevelanders have the biggest hearts and are most charitable, even in supposed rough economic times!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Those two words just don't seem to encapsulate the genuine feeling, but it is heartfelt.

Cleveland IS the best city in the world! I am so very proud to live here with such wonderful people!

Food Drive day!

9:25pm THIS JUST IN!!!!

You are hearing it here first, folks! The Cleveland Foodbank folks have tallied and weighed all of the food collected during today's food drive. Drum roll please: More than 10,000 pounds of food was collected and over $2500 dollars raised...which will supply over 17,000 meals to the folks of Northeast Ohio! The Foodbank says today's event exceeded all expectations. We have no one to thank but YOU, the kind, giving people of Northeast Ohio! We here at Channel 3 thank you from the bottom of our hearts! You came through once again!

5:30pm It's here! It has been a smashing success all day long from the 5:30am kickoff outside of the Channel 3 Studios!

We still have a few hours to go (at this writing) but I do want to thank all of our viewers who have stopped by to drop off canned goods or money.

I had a blast working the food drive between 2pm and 3pm. What a hoot! It was really a great time meeting some of our customers and hearing their stories! There are so many caring Clevelanders who pulled up to offer their help with this great cause. And it was fun being able to spend quality time with some of my co-workers 'away from my post.'

The weather has held up beautifully. Later in the day the chill started creeping up (chasing a few of my fellow on-air comrades who shall remain nameless back inside)!!!!

Such a festive day inside and out. It would be great if they were all like this.

And then right around 515pm, BFD blues band started wowing the audience with their rockin' style! A great addition to our afternoon craziness--jammin' while we work!!!!

Please tune into our 6pm and 7pm news shows tonight for live interviews, reports and progress reports on the Cleveland Foodbank and WKYC food drive.

Stay tuned for updates and thanks again for all of your help and support on this great cause!

WKYC needs YOUR help!

(foodbank shelves photo Courtesy WKYC)


There are two projects Channel 3 has embraced during the next few weeks, and we need YOUR help!


Channel 3 has teamed up with Giant Eagle and the Cleveland Foodbank to help feed our neighbors.


If you donate to the Cleveland Foodbank this week, you will be entered into a drawing to win one of fifty FREE one-hundred dollar gift cards.


Log onto wkyc.com and look for the attached LINK to donate and enter the drawing!


Then next week, on Thursday October 2nd, WKYC is teaming up with the Cleveland Foodbank for the "Let's Feed Northeast Ohio" food drive. It runs from 530am until 730pm right outside Channel 3 at 1333 Lakeside Avenue. We will be collecting non-perishable food items for those needy families in Northeast Ohio.


Stop by, chat with your favorite Channel 3 personality, and donate an item for someone in need.


The Cleveland Foodbank oversees and is responsible for supplying food to over 440 hunger programs spanning six counties.


The second project in the works is our 'Family Budget Challenge.'


If you need some motivation to start saving money in these tough economic times, please seriously consider joining our 'Family Budget Challenge!'


We are currently trying to find a local family who wants to see how much money they can shave off their budget in a month's time, with the help of a financial planner.


Please let us know why YOU can use the budget help.


All you have to do is log onto wkyc.com, and click on the 'Family Budget Challenge' LINK to send us an email on why you should be our family!