Saint John's community radio station, Local 107.3, takes over hosting duties Wednesday for the Homelessness Marathon, an annual radiothon that began in 1988 in Geneva, N.Y.

Topics include in-depth portraits of individuals who have experienced homelessness, profiles of activist organizations and docs on social issues affecting homeless populations.

Local 107.3 program director Mike Specht was excited to gear up for a 12-plus-hour day at work.

"I've got this great nervous energy and excitement," said Specht. "The Homelessness Marathon is a a great day to be a part of."

Linking communities across Canada

The goal is "to raise awareness and create linkages between homeless populations across Canada and stand in solidarity with those in the streets," Specht said.

Local 107.3 started airing the Homelessness Marathon in 2010 — but 2017 will be the first year the Saint John community radio station has produced original content.

Local 107.3's Femcore Feminist Collective created an hour-long segment on the role of gender in homelessness, in which women's co-ordinator Abigail Smith spoke with Jenn Megeney from the Coverdale Women's Centre, and Diane Kerns and Julie Dingwell from AIDS Saint John.

17 broadcasters in six provinces will air the marathon.

Fuelled by caffeine, social responsibility

The all-night broadcast is a way for largely volunteer-run community radio stations to showcase less-heard perspectives on homelessness.

"People across the country do a really great job of interviewing either people who are experiencing homelessness, or people who have experienced homelessness in the past," said Specht, "and share that with communities across the country."

The 2017 Homelessness Marathon starts its 11-hour broadcast on Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. and runs until Thursday, Feb. 23, at 6 a.m. on Local 107.3.