The annual WLUC-TV (Marquette) TV6 Canathon has been underway since November 1 and that effort will continue through today, December 1. The Canathon is a month long effort to collect donations of canned goods to help feed a hungry neighbor. This is the 42nd year for the event and organizations like the Salvation Army say it’s an important effort at a time of year when the need is greatest.

The TV6 Canathon began in 1982 with about 700 pounds of food being donated to help the local food pantries that first year. Since that time the annual donations have increased dramatically with over 4.5 million pounds of food donated to local food pantries.  All food collected in a community through the effort stays there to “help feed a hungry neighbor.” Once the food is collected, it is distributed through St. Vincent DePaul Society and Salvation Army food banks and food pantries affiliated with various local churches.

The continued success of the annual event can be attributed to several factors. One of the most important is the partnerships with other media outlets and organizations.   Those partners include: WYKX/WDBC in Delta County, Y101 in Ontonagon County, Eagle Radio in Baraga, Houghton and Keweenaw Counties, St. Vincent DePaul in Iron County, plus the Good Neighbor Food Pantry/St Vincent DePaul/Christ Fellowship Ministries in Schoolcraft County, the City of Ironwood (Bob Tervonen) and the Cities of Wakefield and Bessemer (Richard Brackney & Susan Ahonen) in Gogebic County, also in Gogebic County is WIMI/WJMS radio who are assisting with the event, WJNR/WOBE/WHTO in Dickinson and Iron Counties, the student group “Marquette Ending Hunger” on Northern Michigan University’s campus and Media Brew Communications in Marquette County.

The 2023 TV6 Canathon will officially wrap up on December 7 with a live, TV6 Canathon program on the station.