35th annual Cash and Cans Money & Food Drive starts Dec. 13

FRANKLIN — ‘Making a difference one donation at a time,’ Mix 94.1fm's 35th annual Cash and Cans Money & Food Drive for the holidays is set for Monday to Friday, Dec. 13-17. All monies and food raised stays local, benefiting several area organizations, including the Franklin Police Toys for Tots program; the Belmont Police Santa ‘Lil Helpers program; Twin Rivers Interfaith Food Pantry; Bread & Roses Soup Kitchen; Tilton/Northfield/Sanbornton Christmas Fund; Every Child Is Ours; Greater Lakes Region Santa Fund, Meredith Emergency Food Pantry, the Northfield-Tilton Congregational Church Food Pantry, St. Joseph’s Belmont Food Pantry and others.

Last year was another record year for donations, with over $52,000 in cash and over 30,000 non-perishable food items raised. Mix 94.1fm’s Fred Caruso, who started the program in 1987, looks forward to this week every year. “We meet so many generous people during Cash and Cans week. It’s a heart-warming week, from kids giving their piggy bank money to the business community donating, all we ask is people give what they can. And the best part…it all stays right here in our central New Hampshire Community.”

Caruso acknowledges this will be another different year, still dealing with the pandemic. “We’re taking all precautions but, we’ll be out there. Many people are hurting right now due to job loss and sickness. Our goal is to try to help as many people as possible through the organizations that benefit from the generosity of our listeners.”

Caruso and morning co-host Amy Bates will broadcast live from 18 different locations, accepting your Cash and Cans donations. All broadcasts are outside with all safety protocols in place. Here is where they will be, and when they will be there:

Monday, Dec. 13: 5:30-9 a.m., George's Diner, Meredith; 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Vista Foods, Laconia; 2-5 p.m., Verizon Wireless Zone/American Shaman, Laconia.

Tuesday, Dec. 14: 5:30-8 a.m., Willow Hill Food & Beverage, Franklin; 9-11 a.m., Stafford Oil Laconia; 11 a.m.-1 p.m., HK Powersports, Laconia; 2-5 p.m., Belknap Subaru, Tilton.

Wednesday, Dec. 15: 5:30-10 a.m. Dunkin’ Donuts, West Main Street, Tilton. Make a minimum $10 donation, get a dozen donuts free; 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Prescott's Florist, Laconia; 1-3 p.m., Irwin Motors, Laconia; 4-7 p.m., McDonald’s Tilton.

Thursday, Dec. 16: 5:30-10 a.m., Park-N-Go Market, Northfield; 11 a.m.-1 p.m., T-Bones Laconia; 2-4 p.m., Franklin Savings Bank Upper Central Street, Franklin; 4:30-7 p.m., Planet Honda, Tilton.

Friday, Dec. 17: 5:30-10 a.m., McDonald’s Franklin; 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Benson Auto, Franklin; 2:30-5:30 p.m., Grevior Furniture, Franklin.

Donations may also be made by mail. Make checks payable to Mix Cash and Cans and mail to Mix 94.1fm, PO Box 99, Franklin, NH 03235 or Venmo @Mixcashandcans. For more information about the Mix Cash and Cans program, visit www.mix941fm.com or contact Fred Caruso at fred@mix941fm.com. Mix Cash and Cans is a public service of Mix 94.1fm, a locally owned and operated Northeast Communications Corporation radio station.