Hoosiers help FOX59 Pack The Pantries by donating more than 300,000 meals for those in need

Hoosiers help FOX59 Pack The Pantries by donating more than 300,000 meals for those in need

April 23, 2018 — In Indianapolis, IN, 1 in 6 people wake up each day unsure of where their next meal will come from.  That’s why Tribune Media’s WXIN, FOX59 has chosen to make hunger an issue that won’t be forgotten in Central Indiana.  During its 13-hour telethon on Friday, April 20, FOX59’s Pack The Pantries food drive brought in over $102,000, enough to provide more than 300,000 meals for hungry Hoosiers.

“One of the great privileges of our business is that we have the ability to mobilize great generosity.  And what a great example of generosity we have witnessed,” said FOX59 General Manager Jamie Aitken. “In a day of fundraising we were able to feed 306,000 Hoosiers and still provide our viewers all the content and service they expect from us every day.”

This marks the fifth year that FOX59 has made a measurable difference with the Pack The Pantries program. FOX59 produces stories every month in conjunction with the City of Indianapolis and its two local food banks, Midwest and Gleaners, to shine a light on the need to help feed our neighbors. The Pack the Pantries telethon is one of two annual drives to replenish food bank shelves and provide assistance to those in need.

“Thanks to FOX59, unknown donors are moved to give to needy families they will never meet, but who will be forever grateful,” commented John Whitaker, Executive Director of Midwest Food Banks. “As a lifetime Hoosier I am very proud of the community support for Gleaners and Midwest as we strive to work out our mission to make available nutritious food for those who are food insecure in our community.”

“The partnership with FOX59 and their commitment to helping feed more hungry Hoosiers has been a blessing,” said Gleaners President/CEO, John Elliott. “Spring is often a difficult time for food banks, as donations of both food and funds dwindle and his collection will help us bridge that gap.”

“This is the kind of day that brings out the very best in our viewers to feed the neediest in our community.  It doesn’t get better than that!” added VP of News, Kerri Cavanaugh.

ABOUT FOX59 – WXIN FOX59 is Indy’s source for news, sports and entertainment. FOX59 News programs more local news than any other Indianapolis TV station and can be seen on WXIN-TV, FOX59.com and the FOX59 News and Weather apps.  WXIN59.2 is Indy’s home of Tribune Broadcasting’s classic TV network Antenna TV and WXIN 59.3 is Indianapolis’ Comet TV Sy-Fy network affiliate. WXIN-TV is a Tribune Broadcasting station.  For more information on FOX59, go to FOX59.com/ABOUT.

Tribune Media Company (NYSE: TRCO) is home to a diverse portfolio of television and digital properties driven by quality news, entertainment and sports programming. Tribune Media is comprised of Tribune Broadcasting’s 42 owned or operated local television stations reaching approximately 50 million households, national entertainment cable network WGN America, whose reach is more than 77 million households, Tribune Studios, and a variety of digital applications and websites commanding 54 million monthly unique visitors online. Tribune Media also includes Chicago’s WGN-AM and the national multicast networks Antenna TV and THIS TV. Additionally, the Company owns and manages a significant number of real estate properties across the U.S. and holds a variety of investments, including a 31% interest in Television Food Network, G.P., which operates Food Network and Cooking Channel. For more information please visit www.tribunemedia.com.