CJLF Sharathon During Covid-19

With a pandemic going on, it may not seem like an ideal time for a fundraiser, but this is the time when CJLF/Barrie, ONT (LIFE 100.3) has their annual Sharathon fundraiser, bringing in money that sustains them for the entire next year. Sharathon was 3 days this year, March 25-27 from the LIFE 100.3 studios in Barrie.

In a normal year there would be dozens of volunteers manning the phones and pastors and artists in studio with the DJs. But with COVID-19, that wasn’t possible this year. Radio is still an essential service, airing news and updates to listeners, but volunteers and guests were cancelled, some staff worked from home and a few DJs were on air with a couple staff members on the phones. A good portion of giving now comes online, which makes things a little easier.

Operations Manager, Steve Jones says, “There were some listeners who aren’t able to give at this time due to lost jobs, but we still had hundreds of listeners calling or making a donation online, sharing how much encouragement and positivity they feel from LIFE 100.3, especially in this climate. And that’s why we’re here.”

Sharathon wrapped up with 90% of the monthly goal and 85% of the one-time goal being raised. “Hearing listener stories of how much this radio station means to them and having listeners and businesses give to us financially, especially in this uncertain time, means so much and really helps our small business when other parts of our business, like advertising, are slow,” says Steve Jones.

LIFE 100.3 has repeater stations in Owen Sound at 90.1FM, Peterborough at 89.3FM and in Huntsville at 98.9FM.