(Top L-R): WMMR-FM’s Steve Morrison, Preston Elliot, and Kathy Romano; Nothing But Thieves’ Dom Craik and Conor Mason (Bottom): Jon Bon Jovi
(photo: BP Miller/Chorus Photography)
Beasley Media Group Rock WMMR/Philadelphia’s morning team Preston & Steve‘s annual Camp Out For Hunger event raised over 2.5 million pounds of food and $1.4 million dollars cash this year to benefit needy individuals and families residing throughout the greater Philadelphia area. Proceeds will directly benefit Philabundance, Delaware Valley’s largest hunger relief organization which acquires and distributes food to help feed those in need, while also advocating for policies that increase food access.
Beginning at 6 am on Monday, November 16 through 11 am on Friday, November 20, Preston and Steve camped out and broadcast live in the parking lot of Xfinity Live!, located within the Wells Fargo Center Sports Complex, in South Philadelphia in an effort to collect food and monetary donations from listeners and businesses throughout the tri-state area. The duo started their food drive back in 1998 after recognizing that hunger was a real issue in the Philadelphia area. Their initial goal was to raise one ton of food.
Dozens of local and national celebrities, performers, and athletes were either on hand, or ‘zoomed in’ this year to lend their support, including Jon Bon Jovi, Tiffany Haddish, Rob McElhenney, Michael Giacchino and Brad Bird, Brent Smith from Shinedown, members of the band Nothing But Thieves, Mike Kerr from Royal Blood, U.S. Senator Chris Coons, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola and many more.
While online and ACME in-store cash donations were the focal point to maximize social distancing, donations were accepted on site via a drive-thru system to make it contactless, while the volunteers loading the food were treated to free coffee in the morning, along with breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the day from event sponsors. Subaru of America provided the largest donation from a business, 752,632 pounds of food, earning them a live Preston & Steve broadcast from their headquarters in Camden, NJ.
