Bank-to-bank is an efficient option

Published 5:00 pm Wednesday, August 19, 2009

The Daily Astorian and Chinook Observer formed a partnership with KMUN community radio several years ago for a variety of excellent reasons, not least of which is the excellence of this vital on-air community resource. After all, where else can you learn the ropes about passing vessels on The Ship Report, catch up on Celtic music or folk, and end the afternoon with All Things Considered – quite possibly the best radio news program that has ever been?

Each Friday at 9:30 a.m., our own KMUN talk show, After Deadline, features conversations with fascinating people hosted by Astorian and Observer editors and reporters. Producing this program and contributing local content for news broadcasts have enhanced our appreciation of mostly homemade radio as practiced in Astoria. Everyone who lives here has reason to be proud and grateful to the staff, volunteers and financial supporters of this little station that makes a big difference.

Through Aug. 24, KMUN is teaming with Bank of Astoria and the Bank of the Pacific for a unique fund-raising drive. At designated times, donations to the station will be matched by the banks with funds going directly to listeners’ own community food banks.

As conceived by the station’s general manager, David Hammock, this program of “Bank to Bank” is in keeping with the mission of the nonprofit Tillicum Foundation operating KMUN 91.9FM Astoria, KTCB 89.5FM Tillamook and KCPB 90.9 Warrenton.

In these difficult times, when too many area families are struggling to satisfy their nutritional needs, “Bank to Bank” proves how local institutions can work to stretch available resources and meet multiple needs at one time. KMUN and the banks deserve praise for coming up with this neat way of helping feed our neighbors, while also keeping the station on the air.

Stay tuned to any of the frequencies above to make your donations to community radio and your local food bank, with Bank of Astoria and Bank of the Pacific picking up half the tab. At the same time, you’ll be entertained and informed by the eclectic offerings of these fine community-focused stations.