WBKR St. Jude Radiothon Day One Recap

As we approached the first week of February and the 2021 St. Jude Radiothon, we all knew it was going to look different because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But it certainly didn't FEEL different, as the mission stayed the same. The mission ALWAYS stays the same. It's Danny Thomas' mission STATEMENT: No child should die in the dawn of life. In fact, day one of the Window World St. Jude Radiothon was the 59th anniversary of the opening of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.

While we typically invite a raft of special guests, local celebrities who donate an hour (or sometimes more) of their time, to join us in studio for musical performances, inspirational stories, and the reading of donations, the pandemic rendered that impossible. So we did the next best thing. Our good and big-hearted friends joined us by telephone, and the radiothon never missed a beat.

Here's how to become a St. Jude Partner in Hope for just $19 a month:

During the radiothon Friday, call 1-800-201-8883. The phone lines will be open from 6AM until 7PM. You can also text HOPE to 626262. When you become a Partner in Hope, you'll get one of the brand new "We Won't Stop" St. Jude t-shirts. You can also snag one by simply RENEWING your partnership. And thank you.

Now, on to Jerry Morris, the fearless leader of the Angels for Ashley Cooking Team, who has never missed an opportunity to hit up his "Friends of Jerry," who fork over their Benjamins for St. Jude. I call this campaign Jerry's St. Jude Side Hustle, and it's never been more welcome or needed than in a year when, BECAUSE of the pandemic, we were unable to offer plate lunches, which have been made available in years past for St. Jude donations.

But his friends came through. And so did his team, who fanned out across three locations--Shoe Stop in Wesleyan Park Plaza, Owensboro; Norman MacDonald's Country Drive-In in Philpot; and the Whitesville Mercantile--and sold 400 Boston butts, 400 chickens, and 200 racks of ribs.

And here's the kicker...they were all sold before 3PM, which is a record. I'm telling you, Jerry Morris should get his own chapter in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The St. Jude Cookouts were drive-through only but the yield was mind-boggling. And the cookouts will resume tomorrow, with one exception. They will only be cooking at selling at Shoe Stop and the Whitesville Mercantile.

Here's the price list:

BOSTON BUTTS - $35
RIBS - $25
CHICKENS - $10

And don't forget, the Big Game is Sunday and this would be the perfect opportunity to allow you to avoid doing much cooking. Hint, hint.

Thanks to all who donated, in one form or another, to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Day two is on its way, and we can't wait to see how you'll knock it out of the park on Friday.

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