STORY and PHOTOS: Radio station feeds the crowds

FORT WALTON BEACH —One grill was not enough to feed the crowd of homeless and low income residents Wednesday in front of the Catholic Charities on First Street.

PHOTOS: Click to view a photo gallery of the homeless being fed.

A handful of employees and volunteers from WPSM 91.1 contemporary Christian radio station got out of the studio Wednesday during their annual Share-a-thon fundraiser to give to the community.

"Our purpose is community. We want to remind people what we do," said Jessica Thorne, outreach and promotions associate for WPSM.

Hot dogs and hamburgers we given out to more than 200 people forcing multiple runs to the grocery store for extra food and charcoal.

WPSM, a non-profit station, encouraged people over the radio to bring food items to Catholic Charities in exchange for food and CDs.

Many of the people in line were there because of financial hardships.

One volunteer said that people heard about the free food and came by for a meal because their employer had cut their hours making it hard to feed their family.

Still, most of the people in line at the Catholic Charities Wednesday have been living on the streets for years.

"I will work if there was work, but there is no work," said Timothy Linville a homeless portrait artist who has been living on the streets of Fort Walton Beach for three years.

James Beller Sr. was thankful for the meal.

"I feel very gracious for the services," Beller said.

Beller blames the economy for the turnout at Catholic Charities.

" With the way the economy is, I think it may be getting worse," he added.