Toledo radio station in need of more funds to remain on the air

WAKT-FM is a volunteer-run station that focuses on promoting local musicians and hosts shows specific to Toledo, but the board says it needs more money to run.

TOLEDO, Ohio —

A Toledo radio station is looking for community support to help stay on the air.

WAKT-FM has been broadcasting from the parking lot of the Seagate Food Bank for three years, but that may be coming to an end.

The station’s board has decided that if they can’t keep up with funding needs by the end of this year, they’ll have to shut things down.

The low-power station is only 100 watts, all powered by volunteers with a love of radio. Volunteer Dennis Williams hosts “Saturday Morning with Denis” on the station and has had a passion for radio since he was 10 years old.

“Radio was already in my heart at that age,” Williams said.

Others, like the station’s development director Nathan Staples, have radio in their DNA.

“My dad was the Staples, Dennis Staples, of Kelly and Staples in the Mornings, and so I grew up around radio stations,” he said.

Staples said the station fills a niche in the Glass City’s community.

“We really try and promote local diverse voices that you won’t hear anywhere else on the radio, and part of that is trying to promote local music,” Staples said.

The station prioritizes giving local artists a chance to get their name and sound on the airwaves. It also hosts shows that talk about all things Toledo, the Great Lakes, wrestling and more.

Staples said lots of people have switched to streaming music, but radio allows people to connect in a unique way.

“You develop a relationship with the content, with the music, with everything,” Staples said. “It helps that every show you hear here, for the most part, is talking about local Toledo issues.”

This all may come to an end if WAKT doesn’t get more funds. 

“We’re trying to make sure that we can cover our electricity budget, and cover our licensing and our insurance and things like that,” Staples said. 

According to Staples, the station’s board said it’s making a decision by the end of the year if it doesn’t get more underwriters. Money isn’t the only way to support, Staples said. It’s important to have people tune in.

People can listen to WAKT on 106.1 FM if they’re driving in city limits, or can stream it online.

“We’re one of you,” Williams said. “We are a Toledo bunch of people here and we don’t want this to come to an end. We’re having a great time and we hope that you start liking us even more.”