Many were stranded at home, at work, or other places and people were without food, worried about medical care, and scared as it was the biggest storm anyone had seen.
At WBLY, station manager and on-air personality Smilin' Bob Yontz and others stayed on the air to give directions about what to do, provide contact numbers for food and help, connect people, and assist however they could.
The morning after the blizzard began, they asked for donations for groceries from Fulmer’s to distribute to those in need through the Salvation Army. More than $42,000 was collected over two weeks.
Shown here are (seated) June Powers, program director and Dan Cline, news director with receptionist Diane Wynn, and Robert “Smilin’ Bob” Yontz opening the generous donations.