Food For The Hungry 2025

FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY – 2025

Food for the Hungry is the annual collection of food and funds to benefit Interchurch Social Services, The Salvation Army, and other food assistance organizations of Knox County. The calendar is full of events and special collections planned to support the annual drive. Donations help stock pantry shelves and give financial assistance to support Knox County's citizens in need.

For more information, log on to www.FoodForTheHungryCares.org.

Food For The Hungry - Working together to care for our neighbors.

Join WNZR at the 44th annual Food for the Hungry drive, Friday, December 12.
We will bring you live updates all day from 9am to 5pm. Join us as we share updates on the total and all activities. We will also be talking with the amazing volunteers of this project.

Top Food Items Needed

Canned Fruit/Vegetables
Soup (pop-top cans or packages preferred)
Canned Meals (ravioli, Spaghetti-Os, and the like).
Baked Beans
Canned Meat

Food For The Hungry Kicked off on Nov 7th. This year’s goal is $340,000.

The Knox County Food Council estimates that there are 14,400 people struggling to have enough food in Knox County. The 2025 goal was set with this growing number of people in mind.

The goal includes

Supporting Interchurch and The Salvation Army
Winter Grants for food pantries and hot meals
Summer Grants that prioritize students who rely on free school meals during the school year

Your help is needed for Food For The Hungry to reach its goal!

Get involved by attending events, donating, volunteering, or even hosting your own event or collection

for FFTH! Find all the info you need at www.FoodForTheHungryCares.org.

This is a Knox County tradition you won’t want to miss.

2025 Food For The Hungry Winter Grant Recipients

Food For The Hungry has announced its Winter Grant Recipients. The grants awarded totaled $55,000 and went to 23 different organizations that provided food for people in need. These grants were made possible with funds set aside from the 2024 FFTH Drive. For a full list of the Grant Recipients, visit FoodForTheHungryCares.org and click on the “Who We Help” Tab, and then click “Grant Recipients.” Grant Recipients will also be featured on Food For The Hungry Live - broadcast on Friday, December 12th from the Memorial Theater at the Knox Memorial.

2025 Tukey Trot TOTALS

Thanks to everyone that participated in The Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning to support Food for the Hungry! The 15th Annual Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk brought in $1,837 and 663 food items!

254 runners/walkers participated on Thanksgiving morning.

Thanks to WeRunMV for hosting this event.

2025 Knox Community Jazz Orchestra Concert TOTALS

Thanks to everyone that came to the Knox Community Jazz Orchestra concert on November 22nd. With over 80 people in attendance, the Jazz Orchestra roke its previous collection record, raising $1,104.66 and collecting 157 food items for Food For The Hungry!

Thanks to the Jazz Orchestra and vocalist Benjamin Priestland for this amazing evening.

Here are some of the upcoming events:

All proceeds from these events benefit the Knox County Food For The Hungry drive!

Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County Food For The Hungry Collection.

The Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County is collecting non-perishable food, personal care items, pet food, and pet supplies to support Food For The Hungry and the Humane Society. Bring in your donation to any PLMVKC branch from November 3 through December 5, 2025.

Mount Vernon’s Country Club Rehabilitation Campus is holding

“Double the Donation” Collection.

The Country Club Rehabilitation Campus of Mount Vernon is now collecting food donations for its Double the Donation Food For The Hungry collection. They will be matching the number of donated cans/food items collected from now until Drive Day, December 12th. Donations can be taken to the main building at 1350 Yauger Rd., Mount Vernon, OH 43050, from 8:30AM-5PM. If you have questions, contact Chris Turner

at (740) 263-0420.

Harmony Salt Spa Discounts for Donations
Harmony Salt Spa in Mount Vernon is offering discounts on spa treatments when customers bring ANY non-perishable food donation for Food For The Hungry! Deals include:
$15 OFF any Massage
$20 OFF Halotherapy (salt room)
$10 OFF Full-Spectrum Infrared Sauna
$10 OFF any Spa Package
$10 OFF any Facial or Lash Service
Prices are Valid until December 10th and only on full-priced services. The discounts cannot be combined with other offers. Call for booking at 740-326-6032 or Book now on Harmony Salt Spa’s website - HarmonySaltSpa.com. Harmony Salt Spa is located at 116 W High St., Mount Vernon, OH 43050.

Food For The Hungry Service Club Competition

Local service clubs across Knox County are invited to participate in the annual Friendly Competition for the 44th Food For The Hungry campaign, aiming to raise $340,000 to support families in need during the holidays and throughout the year. The campaign offers a unique opportunity for clubs to multiply their impact — every dollar donated equals $4.56 in food purchasing power. Clubs can begin collecting donations immediately. The collection period runs through December 8. Deliver your donations in an envelope clearly marked with your organization’s name and indicating that the funds are for Food For The Hungry to WRP CPAs, located at 1684 Venture Drive, Suite B, Mount Vernon. All participating clubs will be recognized during the Food For The Hungry LIVE event, broadcast on December 12. The club that raises the most funds will have the opportunity to send a representative to be featured on the live broadcast at the Memorial Building.

MVNU’s Basketball Games to Support Food For The Hungry
Food For The Hungry will be featured and supported at both the MVNU Women’s and Men’s Basketball Games on Saturday, December 6, at 1 PM and 3 PM. There will be a table at the entrance to the games featuring Food For The Hungry and accepting non-perishable food items and monetary donations. At halftime of the Men’s Game, MVNU Athletics will do Free Throws for Food For The Hungry. The Athletic Department will give $1 for every free throw made.

Knox County Park District’s Fire and Ice

Join us on December 6 between 5:30-9 p.m. for a luminary adventure spectacular at Honey Run Waterfall! This event is to support Food for the Hungry of Knox County, so shelf-stable food donations and/or monetary contributions are welcomed and encouraged. Park your vehicle at the Millwood Church of Christ located at 10900 Millersburg Road, Howard, Ohio. Here you may donate, if desired, to Food for the

Hungry, then board a free Knox Area Transit shuttle that will take you to the Honey Run Waterfall.

Beautiful luminaries will line the walkway to and around the waterfall area, providing a holiday ambiance

for all to enjoy.

Park National Bank Holiday decor Auctions

The Centerburg and Danville branches of Park National Bank are hosting holiday decor auctions with all proceeds going to Food For The Hungry!

These are silent auctions that are open for bidding until Friday, December 12th at Noon!

There are 15 items in the Centerburg lobby and 6 in Danville. Each item was created and donated by local community members. We highly encourage you to take a look at these items and place your bids during business hours. Mon - Fri, 9AM-5PM. Sat, 9AM-12PM.

The Danville branch is located at 4 S Market St, Danville, OH 43014.

The Centerburg branch is located at 35 W Main St, Centerburg, OH 43011.

FFTH Collection Points on Dec. 12th
Non-perishable and monetary donations can be made at the FFTH Collection Points throughout Knox County on Drive Day, Dec. 12th from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. Mount Vernon collection points include Walmart, Aldi, Baker’s IGA, Lannings, Kroger, and The Knox Memorial (open until 4:30 p.m.). The Centerburg and Danville collection points are their local Hometown Markets. Other collection points include Freddy Chevrolet in Fredericktown and The Village Market in Gambier.

Financial donations can be made at the FFTH website or mailed to WRP CPA’s, 1684 Venture Dr. Ste B, Mt Vernon, OH 43050 (Designated Food For The Hungry).

Food For The Hungry LIVE
Food For The Hungry LIVE is almost here! The Live Broadcast begins on Friday, Dec. 12 at
9 A.M. and continues until 5 P.M.

FFTH Live will be available on 100.9 FM and 93.7 HD2 - WMVO, with video stream at www.mvnu.tv and the FFTH YouTube channel. Updates will be given throughout the day on 90.9FM WNZR, 93.7 The Super Q, and FFTH social media.
FFTH Live will air from the Memorial Theater in Knox Memorial on East High Street in Mount Vernon.

This year’s Broadcast, as always, is a celebration of giving. The Broadcast highlights many community members and organizations presenting their contributions to the Drive.
The FFTH Winter Grants recipients will be featured throughout the day. FFTH and Psi Iota Xi will also recognize several Knox County school and student collection winners.

Kenyon Snowflake Gala.

Step onto the red carpet for an evening of glamour and giving at the 15th Annual Snowflake Gala in support of Knox County Food For The Hungry.

The Gala will be held on Saturday, December 13, at the Lowry Center, 221 Duff St, Gambier. The Gala will begin with a red-carpet entrance and cocktail reception at 6:00 PM, dinner at
7:00 PM by the talented Stuart Washington and the KCCC Culinary Arts lab.
Then, raise your paddle during an exciting live auction — all proceeds will directly benefit families and individuals in Knox County. As the evening unfolds, enjoy live entertainment by the sensational Knox Community Jazztet and MTV Arts.

Tickets for the 2025 Snowflake Gala are priced at $100 per person. Individuals or companies can sponsor a table of eight people for $1,000. All sponsors will be recognized in the program for the Gala. Tickets and Sponsor Tables may be reserved by calling Snowflake Gala Committee Member Aubrey Matkovick at (740) 427-5857 or visiting foodforthehungrycares.org/snowflakegala, which offers online payment options.
RSVP deadline is Friday, Dec 5.

All net proceeds from Gala tickets and donations from the auction benefit families and individuals in need in Knox County!

The Knox County Career Center Online Basket Auction

The Knox County Career Center is hosting its annual basket auction to support Food For The Hungry! This online silent auction features 16 unique themed auction items including baskets, individual items and collections with a combined value of $8,282!

Here is a complete list of the baskets up for bid during the auction!
- Car Care 1 Basket – Valued at $530
- Car Care 2 Basket - Valued at $535
- Downtown Date Night Basket - Valued at $549
- Family Fun Basket - Valued at $565
- Foodies Basket - Valued at $484
- Gallagher Center Rental and Basket - Valued at $973
- For Her Basket - Valued at $672
- For Him Basket - Valued at $464
- Kid’s Electric Bicycle - Valued at $800
- Lashley Training Center Memberships - Valued at $600
- Mohican Getaway Basket - Valued at $479
- Northern Getaway basket - Valued at $480
- OSU Basket - Valued at $485
- Pork BBQ Basket 1 - Valued at $160
- Pork BBQ Basket 2 - Valued at $160
- Wood Pellet (1 ton) - Valued at $346

The auction opened up on December 1st and will close on Friday, December 12 at 3pm.
Gift baskets are created through community donations and efforts from Knox County Career Center students, teachers, and staff. Each basket is filled with goodies and would make a perfect Christmas gift or stocking stuffers. To find a basket and place a bid, go to www.32auctions.conn/kcccffth2025

Please note that an account must be created in order to bid in this auction.
Creating an account is not an obligation to bid, nor will it automatically bid for you.

*There is a new feature this year. If someone outbids you, the auction site will notify you with a text message!*

Bidding closes on Friday, December 12th at 3pm, so make sure to act fast!

For more information, follow FFTH on social media or log on to www.FoodForTheHungryCares.org.
Food For The Hungry is celebrating 44 years of working together to care for our neighbors.

Watch the Food For The Hungry LIVE Broadcast on www.mvnu.tv and YouTube on Dec 12th!