In addition to extensive storm coverage, Gannett CBS affiliate WFMY Greensboro, N.C., raised $43,000 in a one-day telethon with the Red Cross to aid tornado victims. It's also organized a two-day food drive for Friday and Saturday.
DMA 47
WFMY Offers Tornado Coverage, Relief
North Carolina tornado recovery got a jump start when Gannett CBS affiliate WFMY Greensboro (DMA 47) teamed up with the American Red Cross in a one-day telethon that raised $43,000.
WFMY quickly set up the fundraiser that kept phone lines open and donations coming in from 5 in the morning through midnight. News 2 moved the Red Cross phone bank into its primary news studio and featured the telethon in all newscasts and programming throughout the day on Tuesday, April 19. “Our station had a unique opportunity to help hundreds of families in need and we used our resources to do just that,” according to WFMY President-GM Larry Audas. “Response showed a lot of heart in the Triad and we’re thankful.”
The relief effort was in tandem with extensive and on-going news and weather coverage by the WFMY News 2 team. While reporting the threat of severe weather on-air, Meteorologist Ed Matthews learned his hometown and mother’s house was in the path of what would be a deadly tornado. Matthews’ mother survived the storm, but a cousin did not. “The Matthews story has been a focus and given regrettable clarity to the destructiveness of the worst tornado assault ever in North Carolina,” the station said.
On April 22 and 23, WFMY will launch “Food 2 Families” in coordination with Lowes Foods in Greensboro. Lowes Foods, the American Red Cross and WFMY will collect food, water, furniture and money from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. The goal is to fill an entire semi trailer with donations and deliver them directly to the people who need them most.
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