Public radio station KMST at Missouri University of Science and Technology is partnering with St. James Winery in St. James, Mo., and the Friday Backpack Program of Rolla for its Spring Membership Drive.

For every pledge made to KMST during the membership drive, St. James Winery will donate $15 to the Friday Backpack Program. The program provides a backpack filled with nutritious food to local students who don’t get enough to eat during weekends.

The Spring Membership Drive begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, with KMST’s popular bluegrass program, “Bluegrass for a Saturday Night.” The drive runs through the following Sunday, March 7.

The goal for this spring’s membership drive is $65,000. “The station has set a goal of 10 new members for each day of the drive,” says KMST General Manager Jim Sigler. “KMST’s ability to increase membership is critical to its continued success and ability to deliver the best quality public radio possible. Since we enjoy life in a sparsely populated part of the country, it is all the more important that every KMST listener becomes a member.

“Dollars that come from listeners and area business underwriters comprise the largest component of support for KMST programming and operations,” Sigler explains. “KMST’s program schedule is a work in progress that mirrors the diverse preferences of KMST listeners. Every dollar pledged to the station goes to making KMST more responsive to the needs of its members and the community.”

During the KMST drive, pledges may be made by calling 573-341-4386 in the Rolla area, or toll-free at 888-776-5678. Listeners also may pledge online at KMST’s website, www.kmst.org. Premiums will be available for various levels of pledging.

KMST is a 100,000-watt non-commercial public radio station that relies on strong listener financial support to cover the cost of its programming and operations. Licensed to the Curators of the University of Missouri, KMST offers a mixed format of news from National Public Radio, nationally and locally produced talk shows, and a wide range of music, including classical, jazz, acoustic folk, blues, big band, Celtic, bluegrass and Caribbean. KMST is located at 88.5 FM in the Rolla area and 96.3 FM in Lebanon and online at www.kmst.org.