OK, I know I sound like a broken record going on and on about the all-Christmas playlist at KOST 103.5, but, seriously, the only thing Christine and I love more than their non-stop Christmas jams are the sad-ass Christmas Wishes that the station grants their listeners every holiday season.
I’ve never called in a wish myself, but it works like this: from Thanksgiving through Christmas day, anyone with a hard luck story and a truly dramatic Christmas Wish can call into KOST at 818-520-2035 and possibly have their wish granted on the air. I know, awesome, right? And as gratifying as it probably is to have your wishes granted by the big-hearted DJ’s at KOST, listening to those teary-eyed phone calls is even better!
I swear to God, the stories these people tell will break your heart. And if the wishes don’t move you, than Michael Gore’s classic “Terms of Endearment” theme, which they play in the background during every segment, surely will.
I can’t tell you how many times Christine and I have sat in the car openly weeping to these sobby Christmas Wish segments. And from what we’ve gathered from our many KOST FM-loving friends and family in the Southland, we are not alone.
A favorite wish of ours from a couple year’s back was from the Grandmother who’s grandchild’s bedroom had been infected with toxic mold. Not only was her grandchild sick from the mold, but all of her favorite books and toys were ruined. Like they always do, KOST swept in with a whopping triple digit gift card from Target to replace everything and give that family back their Christmas. So cool!
And while most of the calls involve someone wanting airfare to visit a sick relative or something like that, two of our favorites this year involved something much more simple…
The first was from a woman who’s mother recently passed away. Her sister is the sole caregiver for their ailing father and since they have no money for extras of any kind this year, the woman drives a totally beat-up car with crappy tires. So, the Christmas Wish this lady asks for are new tires for her sister’s car so she can drive Dad to his doctor’s appointments. OMG…I was blubbering so hard I couldn’t even hear everything that KOST offered this poor woman. Sad!!
But, the best one I’ve heard so far this season came from an emotional gentlemen named Rick whose wife is dying of stage four breast cancer. Already, that’s enough to make anyone cry…but rather than one last trip around the world or a fancy vacation, all Rick wanted for his beautiful, long-suffering wife was a new mattress so she could sleep better at night. Gulp…
If I wasn’t crying so hard, I woulda called in and offered to buy that dude a mattress myself. Seriously, what a tearjerker! And, as always, KOST was quick to grant Rick’s wish with a fluffy new mattress from Living Spaces. You go, KOST!
If you’d like to hear some of these touching and insanely-sad Christmas Wishes yourself, check out the live internet feed here. I can’t get it to play on my Mac, but, since every radio in the house is tuned to KOST right now, it’s not a problem. Happy listening, amigos…
I’ve been listening a lot too. Interestingly enough, I have not been brought to teardom like you and Bean have. I think it’s because the voice of the lady who talks to the callers drives me up the wall.
She talks in that soft-spoken, syrupy, I-feel-your-pain voice that, to me, sounds a little insincere. Imagine a well-trained customer service representative times ten.
But I agree, the stories are super sad, so I am glad KOST is helping these poor people out (even if it is in a fake voice).
hi im 55 years old never seen my grandkids. out in minn. and ill. cause we moved out here from ill.in 1999.had a bad accedent.then we got scam out of your house.so in lived in motel for 8 years. and now in our car. for two years. for my christmas wishes is a nice warm house. and for my senior citzen husband and our son. and me to have the money to see our grandkids.for christmas that my christmas wishes. thank you merry christmas and we will always rember what you did. god bless all of you.. Betty
Wow, Betty, that is a really sad story and I wish there was something I could do to help, but, I was just blogging about how much I love the Christmas Wishes program on KOST in Los Angeles, I don’t actually have the money or power to actually grant the wishes. However, if you really wanna see your grandkids this Christmas, I say you write to KOST at this address: http://www.kost1035.com/pages/christmaswish/?_show or try calling them directly at: (818) 520-1035. Thanks for reading and Merry Christmas!
i tryed to called the station,but they dont answer the phone.if someone can please help us.we will be falthful all that can helped us.we volteers all the time.to help the peoples that between houses now. you can email BettyRemaly@yahoo.com or called me 909-648-4499. if you can mad this our best christmas.god bless all of you out there.Happy Thankgiving,MerryChristmas.Betty
Debbie Hernandez Hi I love 103.5 even so at Christmas time , I wish that my Son who is a single father of 2 Son , Daughter who is having a hard time like many ,but I wish If they could get a christmas tree in there little place with some presents under the tree, they need clothes I just like to see them Happy for Christmas that will make my christmas wish I love to give and not recieve but I am short of money too.I would appreciate it and so grandatude if you can God Bless you !!!! debbie.hernandez41@yahoo.com or called me at 626 224=7613
I’m not sure if this is for a christmas wish. but my wish would be to get some money to pay my rent , its been very hard on my husband and I . He had cancer in the eye got operated it affected his walking but survived and then a couple of weeks ago I was robbed they took my rent money which i have to pay. we are on a fixed income I can’t work due to my bi polar.we can’t afford anything for christmas . so my wish is that my rent will get paid if not all half. Thank you and God bless ,Peggy A. Moreno
HI
MY NAME IS MICHELE GARRETT & I’M A DIABETES & I BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL SEVERAL TIMES THIS YEAR WITH SEVERAL COMPLICATIONS WITH THIS DISEASE & GOTTEN BEHIND ON MY RENT FOR OCT. & NOV TRYING TO BUY MEDICATIONS & PAY FOR MEDICAL BILLS WITHOUT NO MEDICAL INSURANCE. I DON’T HAVE NO WHERE TO GO & I WOULD LIKE TO STAY WHERE IAM. IT’S HARD FOR ME TO BUY FOOD BECAUSE I DON’T HAVE ANY MONEY LEFT AFTER BUYING MEDICATIONS & TRYING TO PAY MEDICAL BILLS. PLEASE HELP IN ANY POSSIBLE WAY….THANK YOU…MICHELEMCMIHELK@ROCKETMAIL.COM…OR CALLED ME AT 562-441-6598….
Wow, guys…I really wish there was something I could do to make all of your Christmas wishes come true. Seriously, I’d love to help all of you with your problems, and totally would if I could, but the fact is that times are tough for everyone right now. So, all I can do this year is wish you well and hope you have a very Merry Christmas despite it all and best of luck in the new year!
My Mom has always brother, sister and I have always helped her, however last month her rent went up $300 dollars now we have been there in time of need for anyone, regardless if she has the funds or not. She is single and lives on a fix income which does not support her. she struggles just to live, she is disabled and unable to work. My all taken on that burden for my mom, but now the financial hardship is starting to take a tow on me and my finances. My son’s 12th birthday is tomorrow and he asked me what am I going to give him, and to be honest I haven’t answered him because I don’t have the money right now, not to mention what am I going to come up with to give my son and daughter for Christmas. My Christmas wish is for my mom, if kost will be kind enough to provide her a Christmas gift that would be wonderful and mean more than you can imagine. Thank You and Merry Christmas
Christine Garcia
MY CHRIST MAS WISH IS TO GET HELP TO GIET MY WIFE GRANDSON AND SON PRESENTS FOR CHRISTMAS BUT THIS YEAR I WON’T BE ABLE TO GET ANY ONE IN MY FAMILY ANYTHING BECAUSE I JUST WENT BACK TO WORK FROM HAVING TO DIFFERENT SURGERYS ON MY RIGHT LEG. AND I;M NOT GOING TO HAVE MONEY FOR THE HOLIDAYS