iHeartMedia Connecticut announced today that two Thanksgiving Week food drives, in Hartford and New Haven, collected nearly 13,000 frozen turkeys, 7,389 pounds of non-perishable food items and raised $37,257 in monetary donations to benefit Connecticut Foodshare, a member of the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks.

iHeartMedia Hartford stations The River 105.9, KISS 95-7, Country 92-5 and 97-9 ESPN supported Bank of America’s 24th annual Bank of America Turkey Tuesday, which took place at Connecticut Foodshare’s headquarters and warehouse on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. The River 105.9’s on-air personality Renee DiNino broadcasted onsite to raise awareness and encourage donations from 6 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Later in the week, the 33rd annual “KC101 Stuff-A-Bus,” hosted by iHeartMedia New Haven, took place on Friday, November 17 and Saturday, November 18 at the Stop & Shop Plaza in Hamden, CT from 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. on both days. The event featured on-air personalities Vinnie Penn, Rob Dibble and Adam Rivers who hosted live broadcasts from inside a tent in the parking lot.

“We’re immensely proud of our community and so grateful for the way it came together in such strong numbers again to support our neighbors this holiday season,” said Vanessa Wojtusiak, iHeartMedia Hartford & New Haven Vice President of Marketing. “We love working with Connecticut Foodshare on this annual tradition ensuring our community can truly have a Happy Thanksgiving”

“We could not have met our Thanksgiving goal without our community partners. Thanks to the amazing team at iHeartMedia our neighbors throughout Connecticut will be able to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal with their family and friends,” said Jason Jakubowski, President and CEO of Connecticut Foodshare.

“Providing meals to our Connecticut neighbors, in partnership with Connecticut Foodshare and with support from iHeartMedia, is one way that we are working to address critical needs across the state, not only during the holiday season but throughout the year,” said Joe Gianni, president, Bank of America Greater Hartford. “Nearly 400,000 people in Connecticut are food insecure, underscoring the continued need for public-private partnerships focused on fighting hunger. Bank of America Turkey Tuesday is a tradition that we look forward to every year.”

“As a major grocery retailer serving Connecticut, we have seen firsthand how food insecurity and a lack of access to fresh and healthy food can negatively impact our community members,” said Daniel Wolk, Manager of External Communications for Stop & Shop. “We are happy that once again our Hamden store team was able to partner with iHeartMedia Connecticut’s KC101 to raise food and funds, thanks to the support of our philanthropic customers, to assist Connecticut Foodshare in their mission to combat hunger during this holiday season.”