Raycom Media's CBS affiliate WOIO Cleveland collected hundreds of coats and 2,875 pounds of food on November 20, when it gave away 1,000 free turkeys to those who donated to the fifth annual "Share Your Holidays" drive. Many turkeys are donated back for area residents in need. The Salvation Army of Summit County, Volunteers of America of Greater Cleveland and the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank distributed the donations.

E.W. Scripps' ABC affiliate KGTV San Diego collected 100,000 meals on December 1 in a phone bank for the "Month of a Million Meals" campaign, which runs until December 31. KGTV will host another phone bank on December 15. The drive is coordinated in partnership with Live Well San Diego, Feeding America San Diego and software company ESET. KGTV promoted the drive with the social media hashtag #feedingsandiego. (Watch video.)

Entercom's WMYX-FM Milwaukee collected more than 100,000 meals in the 18th annual "Stuff the Bus" food drive, led by morning show hosts Wes and Elizabeth on November 25. Five Milwaukee County Transit System buses were stuffed with food, including 235 turkeys, during the 12-hour live broadcast. The drive benefits Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.

Raycom Media’s CBS affiliate KFVS-TV Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Withers Broadcasting’s radio stations collected 10,000 pounds of food in the inaugural “Heartland Food Drive” on December 2. The donations will provide 8,000 meals through foodbanks in southeast Missouri, southern Illinois and western Kentucky. (Watch video.)

Media General's ABC affiliate WTNH-TV New Haven, Conn., filled two trucks with non-perishable food and turkeys on November 21 during "Forecast to Help End Hunger" for a local food bank. Meteorologists interacted with hundreds of viewers at the event. (Watch video.)

Sinclair Broadcasting's NBC affiliate WJAR-TV Providence, R.I., raised $83,000 in the "10 Cares Thanksgiving" telethon for The Salvation Army in October. Proceeds provided Thanksgiving food baskets to families in southern New England. (Watch video.)

Eagle Communication's KWBW-AM Salinas, Kan., raised a record $25,500 to help local families through the "2015 Project Concern," held in partnership with Dillon's and Midwest Superstore. KWBW ran promos and talked about the drive daily on the morning show. Thanks to "Project Concern," 1,700 people in the 550 families that requested help received assistance. All funds stay local and were distributed through the Hutchinson Salvation Army, the Hutchinson Christian Soup Ministry and a local church that offers a free lunch on Thanksgiving.

Beasley Broadcasting's WNKS-FM Charlotte raised $44,000 in its November 24 radiothon for Levine Children's Hospital to brighten the holidays for kids who will spend them in the hospital.

Hearst Television's ABC affiliates KHBS-TV Fort Smith, Ark., and KHOG-TV Fayetteville, Ark., collected 3,000 turkeys in the "Feeding Hope" food drive, held November 20. (Watch video.)

WTVA Tupelo, Miss. Raises $319,000 for Regional Rehab Center

Heartland Media's NBC affiliate WTVA Tupelo, Miss., raised a record $319,000 for Regional Rehab Center on November 21-22. The center's free resources include physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, audiology and dyslexia treatment. In the past year, the center has helped more than 1,300 people in 18 counties who cannot afford therapy. The $319,000 far surpasses the $200,000 raised in 2014. (Watch video.)

Paxton Media Group's NBC affiliate WPSD-TV Paducah, Ky.'s 59th annual "Telethon of Stars Celebration Concert" raised $187,000 on November 14 to support local Easter Seals programs for children and adults with special needs. Performers included Lee Greenwood, The Talleys, Brian Hyland, The Chiffons, Johnny Tillotson and Shirley Alston Reeves of The Shirelles.

Alpha Media's KOYE-FM Tyler, Texas, raised more than $100,000 for the Children's Miracle Network in a radiothon on October 22-23. Proceeds from the event assist local families who are receiving care from the Children's Miracle Network at Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics.

Saga Communications' WDBR-FM Springfield, Ill. raised $157,000 in the "2015 Cares for Kids" radiothon, November 19-20. In 10 years, WDBR has collected more than $1,000,000 for St. John's Children's Hospital. (View photos.)

Morning Show Helps Save Veteran from Foreclosure

The "Chaz & AJ Morning Show" on Connoisseur's Conn. stations WDRC-FM Hartford, WPLR-FM New Haven and WFOX Stamford, helped raise almost $16,000 for a local veteran in risk of foreclosure. Brendon Cameron, who served in the U.S. Air Force in Desert Storm, lives in Middletown with his wife, Janette, and two daughters. In March, he suddenly developed symptoms consistent with Gulf War Syndrome, including epilepsy, tremors, weakness and memory loss. He and Janette, who provides round-the-clock care for her husband, needed $8,000 to avoid foreclosure on their home. On Veterans Day, Chaz & AJ featured the Cameron family on the morning show, raising $16,000 before the show ended. "We've done some amazing things on the air," Chaz said. "This I will remember forever."

Sinclair's ABC affiliate WJLA-TV Washington, D.C., aired a segment on November 30 about a mother and her eight children living in a car. Investigative reporter Jennifer Donelan found Maria Herrera and the kids, who range in age from one-year-old twins to 15. After Herrera's alleged abuser kicked them out of their apartment, five different organizations turned them away because of the family's size. After the story aired, D.C.'s Department of Human Services placed them in temporary housing until something permanent is found. (Watch video.)

Cumulus Media's KMJ-AM Fresno, Calif., helped local cancer patient Wilson Odom, whose car had been stolen from his home on November 29. The car was his only means to get to his cancer treaments and was the only transportation for his wife and seven children and grandchildren. Listener Glynn Ward had recently bought a car when morning hosts Matt Otstot and Blake Taylor shared the story on November 30. Instead of selling her old car, she brought it to KMJ for them to donate. Tears streamed down Odom's cheeks when KMJ delivered the car.

Lenawee Broadcasting's WLEN-FM Adrian, Mich. raised $22,000 in the 10th annual "Thank a Vet" day, November 11. The funds support the Housing Help of Lenawee's Veterans Dire Needs Fund, which assists local veterans with rent, mortgage payments to avoid foreclosure, utility bills, storage rental facilities when they are displaced, transportation stipends and simple items such as boots. To date, the event has raised more than $100,000.

Eagle Communications' KINA-AM Salina, Kan., aired a listener call during the November 13 morning show about Salina Christian Academy. The community-funded school was in danger of closing permanently at winter break due to financial trouble. The hosts also talked with the school board president, who said $20,000 was needed by November 30. A generous listener visited the school after listening to KINA and wrote a personal check for $20,000 that day. The school continues to receive donations.

Univision's KXLN-TV Houston, the University of Houston-Downtown and the ACT presented "Parent Academy," a free education workshop on November 14 attended by 100 people. Topics included college admission, financial aid and the importance of broadband access to education. KXLN also hosted a financial town hall, "Pequeños Negocios, Grandes Ideas" (Small Business, Big Ideas), on November 5. The forum, attended by 250 people, was designed to foster the growth of Hispanic-owned small businesses.

Hearst Television's NBC affiliate WBAL-TV Baltimore's "STEM Station" campaign culminated in the first statewide STEM Festival, held November 6-15. More than 100,000 students attended the event, which included labs, robotics and other activities revolving around STEM (science, technology, engineering, math.) The "STEM Station" campaign, launched Feb. 25 by meteorologist Ava Marie, featured weekly stories, 250 activities across Maryland and a website with information, events, photos and videos. Students could upload their own photos and video. A coalition of 32 agencies and non-profit organizations collaborated on the effort. (Watch video.)

WBAL-TV also provided 841 new coats to local kids through the 30th annual "Coats for Kids" drive. WBAL worked with 20 non-profit organizations to identify families and aired the coat distribution live from Burlington Coat Factory. For some kids, it was their first new coat.

CBS Radio's KKHH-FM Houston and Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union (GCEFCU) surprised elementary school teacher Rafael Carballo with $500 for school supplies on November 19. KKHH morning show host Sarah Pepper launched the "Sarah Pepper Cares" initiative so local students can nominate teachers each month.

Hearst's CBS affiliate KCCI-TV Des Moines presented a November 14 debate between Democratic Presidential candidates at Drake University. The debate was held one day after the terror attacks in Paris, so KCCI adjusted its focus to address the tragedy.

NAB offers two awards programs that provide an opportunity for radio and television stations to receive national recognition for their year-round service to local communities.

The NAB Crystal Radio Awards recognize radio stations for year-round commitment to local community service. The 10 winners are announced at the annual NAB Show, held April 16-21, 2016 in Las Vegas. Enter your station here.

The NAB Education Foundation (NABEF) hosts the Celebration of Service to America Awards to honor the outstanding public service commitment of local television and radio broadcasters. Join broadcast industry leaders, philanthropists, government officials and members of the press at this annual black tie gala, June 21, 2016 in Washington, D.C. Enter your station here.