Public radio station KMST finished its eight-day spring membership drive on Sunday, March 7, by raising more than $65,000 and adding more than 66 new members.

The station reached its goal during “Bluegrass for a Saturday Night.” KMST’s new and renewing members from south-central Missouri as well as Internet listeners as far away as New York, Florida and Georgia, were included among this year’s investors.

In addition to raising funds for the station, KMST also raised more than $2,900 for the Friday Backpack Program. For every pledge made during the drive, St. James Winery donated $15 to the program. The Friday Backpack Program provides a backpack filled with nutritious food to local students who don’t get enough to eat during weekends.

KMST relies on strong listener financial support to cover the cost of its programming. Member support and underwriting make up a substantial portion of the station’s budget. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Missouri University of Science and Technology are the other two largest supporters of the station.

In addition, KMST receives support from more than 50 businesses that underwrite programming and dozens of volunteers who answer phones during the drive.

KMST is a 100,000-watt non-commercial public radio station. 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 and around the Rolla area (96.3 FM in Lebanon) and streams its programs online.