CLEVELAND — In the effort to do "what matters most," WKYC Studios launched its volunteer club during the summer of last year. The group’s goal is to recruit employees interested in community engagement to volunteer for a variety of Northeast Ohio nonprofits.
The club includes employees from different departments throughout the station. So far, it has volunteered at the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and most recently PCs For People this past Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Through electronic reuse, PCs For People provides low-income individuals, families, and nonprofits with computers along with internet and digital skills. MLK Day is known as a day of service, and with the help and expertise from our engineering and IT team, WKYC Studios volunteers spent three hours disassembling hard drives, sorting computers, and packaging keyboards.
This effort will help bridge the digital divide by providing low-cost computers to local families in need. Cleveland’s PCs For People has recycled 13 million pounds of technology since 2015.
In November, WKYC Studios volunteered at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank Partner Distribution Hub on Coit Road in Cleveland. Some participants prepared and packed hot and cold meals. After preparing meals, other volunteers sent off all the meals for the day’s shipment, which is estimated to be between 10,000-13,000 meals per day.
Through WKYC Studios parent company TEGNA, volunteers were able to use charity hours and donate funds to a local charity of their choice.
The volunteer club's first event was back in August at the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter. Station employees created enrichment bowls and passed out treats to shelter pets. Leaders of the club decided to volunteer at the animal shelter because it coincided with WKYC Studios' Clear The Shelters campaign, which helps find forever homes for local animals in need.
Nonprofits and organizations interested in potentially hosting WKYC Studios volunteer club can email its leaders:
- Savannah Jackson: sjackson1@wkyc.com
- Roselyn Muñiz: rmuniz@wkyc.com.