Saskatchewan people have a reputation for helping their neighbour, and for routinely incredible responses in the face of a pressing need.  They have come together again to help the victims of last week's earthquake in Haiti.

The Saskatchewan Day of Caring For Haiti generated over $600,000 dollars in just 12 hours.  The final total from the province-wide radiothon on News Talk 650 CKOM and 980 CJME was $620,880.60.

With federal dollar-for-dollar matching, those contributions will be worth over $1.2 million to the Red Cross relief effort.

“We are humbled by this outpouring generosity from the people of Saskatchewan,” says talk show host John Gormley. “Saskatchewanians have proven they really do care.”

Throughout the day, donations poured in from some of Saskatchewan's biggest companies to some of it's smallest residents.  A trio of five year old hockey players from the Saskatoon Bobcats showed up with $100.00 that their team had raised.  One of the players, Dominic, was asked why they raised the money.

"We're giving this money to the people in Haiti, 'cause there was an earthquake.  And they got all hurt and all the buildings broke so we're giving them money so they can buy medicine and get better."

Phone lines rang through the day with donations; many others stopped by collection points set up at the Cornwall Centre and Midtown Plaza.  Employees at Brandt Industries in Regina donated $22,500.00, which was matched by the company for a total of $45,000.00.  Michelle Westrum with Brandt says they started seeking donations yesterday afternoon.

"The company just said, we think this is a very worthwhile cause, we should step up and be responsible and do our part, please help us.  And they sent pledges in. So we're doing payroll deductions over the next couple of months and everybody just filled out a form and like I said, we did it in about 27 hours."

Saskatchewan politicians even got involved, answering phones and making donations.  The NDP held a noon hour lunch at Tommy Douglas House for the Day of Caring and leader Dwain Lingenfelter stopped by with the proceeds, over $4100.00.  Lingenfelter was struck by the response from across Saskatchewan.

"It's important we help our neighbours and friends here and we always do, but what's even more impressive is these are people we don't know.  They're in another part of the world, they need our help and Saskatchewan people have stepped up to the mark and we're just very, very proud to be part of this."

SGI employees across the province held a casual day, making a donation in return for being allowed to wear jeans.  They donated $15,389.00.  And many residents donated individual amounts ranging from $50.00, to $500.00 and even $3000.00 and more.

The amount sets a record for a radio-thon in Saskatchewan.

News Talk 980 CJME and News Talk 650 CKOM are owned and operated by Rawlco Radio Ltd., Saskatchewan’s largest broadcaster with 13 radio stations across the province.