Holmes County Share-A-Christmas started with a glimmer of hope from four local businessmen nearly four decades ago when they reached out to provide gifts for eight area families.
Since then SAC has served thousands of families in its effort, growing to serve more than 300 families annually during the Christmas season.
While the volunteer list has blossomed from four members to hundreds over the years, the SAC board recently bestowed an honor upon the staff for a key component that has brought in untold funds to bolster SAC’s effort.
On Monday, July 7, several SAC board members visited with the staff of WKLM Radio in Millersburg to present them with a plaque of gratitude for their service in hosting the live on-air radio-thon fundraising event each November to help raise what has amounted to millions of dollars for the local organization.
WKLM on-air personalities have been raising funds for SAC for 35 years, an effort that has seen them challenging the community individuals, businesses and groups to donate for a great cause.
Last year saw WKLM raise close to $83,000, and over the past four years alone, it has raised upward of $250,000.
That’s a lot of toys and clothes for kids and food and supplies for families in need of a boost of Christmas spirit and joy.
“Together, we are making a difference, and we are incredibly fortunate to have partners like you who believe in our cause and contribute tirelessly to our success,” longtime outgoing President Bob Porter said to the WKLM staff.
Porter said when SAC started with Mike Taylor, Sam Steimel, John Thern and Bill Baker, it wasn’t long before WKLM manager Mark Lonsinger touched base with them to see how the station could get involved.
The radio donation drive was created and has been rolling ever since.
“We could never do what we do without WKLM’s efforts,” Porter said. “We would still have Share-A-Christmas, but it wouldn’t be on the scale we are doing now. So many kids have benefited from this, and it has brought together the community — east and west, north and south.”
That community commitment has happened not only because of the donations that flood into the station, but also through on-air community guests who get involved.
Porter said WKLM’s effort has taken a lot of the pressure off the board.
Taylor said this unique teaming up of a nonprofit organization and a radio station is something not many communities could pull off.
“It’s not a typical thing,” Taylor said. “The amount of time they have to devote to this project is incredible, and they have a business to run, so you don’t see this very often. It has allowed Share-A-Christmas to expand far beyond anything we thought it could be.”
Taylor said in the early days, there was a time when the core group of four men and their wives put their heads together to figure out how to grow the program.
Their initial goal was to go from eight families to 100, and when Lonsinger stepped in and the radio station got involved, it took the effort up several levels in contributions.
“For Bill and I to raise funds beyond 100 families was going to be a real struggle,” Taylor said. “WKLM gave us the ability to expand the project beyond our wildest dreams, and it’s been going ever since.”
WKLM manager Matt Croy said it is an honor to serve Share-A-Christmas and the community in this manner over the years.
He said SAC is a group effort of many people coming together in unity and compassion and praised his staff for their relentless commitment to the donation drive that begins the day after Thanksgiving.
“This entire staff has been phenomenal in coming together every year to make this happen,” Croy said. “But it can’t be a one-way street to make something like this happen. Working with Bob and Mike and everyone on the (SAC) committee has been fantastic. The work they do behind the scenes makes our job easier.”
Croy said the staff takes great pride in the drive, which usually takes about one week to complete. He said they find great joy in being able to help the community in this manner.
“It’s one way we can be a part of helping the community,” Croy said.
He said bringing in community members on-air is a neat way for others to get involved, and he said even though the donation drive is months away, it will be here quickly.
“Melissa Patrick has done a great job of reaching out into the community to bring guests into the studio, and that’s been huge to have someone else in there and not just us in there talking the entire time,” Croy said.
He said each new individual who comes into the studio brings a fresh perspective and new voice to the effort.
“It makes it a real community effort, and our community takes real pride in helping others,” Croy said.
The honor signifies a crowning achievement in a tireless effort for WKLM, and it showcases the spirit of giving throughout Holmes County when it comes to serving and meeting the needs of others.
