Archive: Around Town

June 1st through June 3rd Cayuga Radio Group will be at the Ithaca Festival with their canned food drive. Last year, almost 2,000 pounds of food was collected by area schools prior to the festival and during festival weekend. All the cans collected are presented to the United Way of Tompkins County for various food pantries in the area.

Caroline, Belle Sherman, Cayuga Heights, Northeast, Enfield, South Hill and Trumansburg Elementary Schools along with Ithaca High School are running 'Kids Helping Kids' can collection campaigns prior to the parade.

"The cans collected during the Ithaca Festival has grown larger each year," said President/General Manager Chet Osadchey, "The United Way of Tompkins County continues to see the need for food rise each year. The festival is a great way for our community to tie their giving to something really fun with something that is incredibly important."

"Our collecting cans continues to provide Ithaca Festival viewers and participants with an easy and valuable way to make a difference. By extending our donation period at the Ithaca festival we hope to make a positive difference in more local residents lives. The United Way is proud to be a part of the Ithaca Festival and partner with Cayuga Radio Group, the Kids Helping Kids Campaign, and the dedicated volunteers and staff in the food pantry." James Brown, United Way of Tompkins County President and CEO.

"This year we will be taking a different approach to 'Cans Along Cayuga'," said Jacob Davis, Marketing Director at CRG, "Instead of collecting cans along the parade route, we will have static location in Dewitt Park for all 3 days of the festival. It's our hope that by giving a wider window of opportunity for people to donate we can have a larger and more inclusive food drive this year. All nine (9) Cayuga Radio Group Stations (WHCU AM/FM, Q Country, Lite Rock 97.3, Iconic Rock I100, Pure Oldies, The Vine, The Buzzer, Z 95.5 and Rewind 107.7) have been running promotional announcements encouraging people to donate and making them aware of the changes this year."

All the food will then be given to the United Way of Tompkins County that will directly designate the recipient organizations.

"It's a necessary cause," said Osadchey," And I cannot think of a more fitting setting to visually showcase the power of individuals making a collective difference than at our festival."

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