Inside the Semi: DJ Jickster sees generosity during Rock Out Hunger

AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) — You see a lot of things when you sleep in a semi for a week aiming to raise food and money donations for the hungry in Western New York.

You see families who make it a point to bring their small children, like Lily and Cora, to hand over grocery bags with Thanksgiving fixings inside. The girls probably don’t know what’s in the bags but they’re learning an early lesson in giving.

You see teenagers like Ashton Halas who excels in baseball, hockey, and auto racing, but his father, Tim, coaches him to make time for people in need by dropping off bags of food.

And you see a woman press a check into your hands telling you her sister passed away and that sister wanted some of her money to go to FeedMoreWNY. 

But that check turns out to be something you rarely see.

Dave ‘DJ’ Jickster, the man who has slept in the semi during frigid November nights for the past 19 years during 97Rock’s Operation: Rock Out Hunger while still maintaining his radio shift and hourly radio updates, says he was stunned by the numbers on the personal check.

“I looked at it quickly and thought it was for $100,” Jickster said. “But then I looked again and realized it was for ten thousand dollars!”

The woman told him she was following her sister’s dying wishes in making the large donation and didn’t want her name used.

Jickster has learned over these past two decades of freezing nights and heartwarming connections that meeting people and hearing their stories is the most important part of his fundraising and ‘foodraising’ appeal.

FeedMore WNY Public Relations Manager Catherine Shick agrees.

“At least once a year we hear from someone who used to receive food, but now is in a position to donate and they will drive from more than an hour away to give to others.”

The food drive, with Jickster camped out in the parking lot of Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, runs through Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. and donations are accepted there by volunteers around the clock.

FeedMore WNY board member Michele Mehaffy was among the volunteers taking in donations Sunday, along with her two teenage children. She notes that a freezer truck loaned to this event by her employer, Wegmans, now holds beyond 1300 turkeys, with more expected.

“If there’s a legacy for DJ Jickster, this is it,” Mehaffy said. “Everyone from corporations to families are dropping off donations for people in need. And it’s all being used.”

Shick calls Jickster “a gift to FeedMore and a friend to the community.”

Jickster repeatedly expresses gratitude for any of the food items and dollars that are donated to the Rock Out Hunger drive and reminds everyone that FeedMore WNY needs support every day of the year. 

But who can blame him if his face brightens when he admits he’s looking forward to a good night’s sleep and some ‘alone time’ when the campaign ends on Tuesday!