WSOU 89.5 FM, the student-run radio station at Seton Hall University, collected the cornucopia of sustenance for the Community Food Bank of New Jersey through WSOU’s yearly food drive. It’s a new record for food collected by the station, far surpassing the old record of 640 pounds set in 2016. This is fifth year of WSOU’s involvement with “Students Change Hunger” and the food drive is one of several community service projects the station organizes each year.
“We set an ambitious goal this year of 895 pounds of food because we are found at 89.5 on the FM dial,” said WSOU Staff Representative Jose Feliciano, who led this year’s food drive. “This is one of the ways WSOU gives back to community. At Seton Hall we learn that broadcasting isn’t just about entertainment, it is also about partnering with others to make a difference within your listening area. It’s a great feeling to know that we are helping to improve people’s lives.”
General Manager Mark Maben noted that WSOU’s annual effort is a little different than a typical commercial radio station food drive. “Rather than collect food or monetary donations directly from listeners, which is a more complicated task for a noncommercial student-run station, WSOU’s donations come directly from students at WSOU and Seton Hall,” said Maben. “What’s inspiring is that some of these students struggle to make ends meet, yet they are all-in to give what they can to support the Community Food Bank of New Jersey.”
Students chose to do a food drive because many people within WSOU’s coverage area are impacted by not having enough to eat. In New Jersey alone, nearly one million people require food assistance, including 270,000 children.
WSOU’s donation of food was brought to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey’s headquarters in Hillside, NJ, on Dec. 18. For more information about the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, and how to help, visit www.cfbnj.org.
Photo (l to r): WSOU Assistant News Director Wilnir Lewis and Staff Representative Jose Feliciano with some of the more than 900 pounds of food Seton Hall University’s student-run radio station collected.
