Thank you for supporting the 44th annual Food For The Hungry drive!
Thank you for supporting the annual Food for the Hungry drive!

Our current total is $346,854.32 and 15 Truckloads of Food!

(as of 5:00pm 12/16/2025) 

 

Community members came together again this year to support food assistance projects and provide emergency client services through Interchurch Social Services, The Salvation Army and other food assistance organizations of Knox County.

 

Volunteers staffed 10 different collection points around the county on Friday 12/12 to collect food and money, while local media combined to produce a eight-hour live broadcast on radio and the internet.

Thanks to Megan Evans, Ian Ernsberger, Scott Swingle, John Nixon and their team with the Mount Vernon Arts Consortium for their use of the Knox Memorial and for their amazing support!

 

The video archive of Friday’s broadcast is also available at MVNU.tv in the 

on-demand tab.

 

Food For The Hungry also announced the awarding of 24 Winter grants, totaling $65,000 to county projects involving food assistance. 

The recipients will use their grants for food initiatives that range from food pantries to weekend meal assistance for students. 

 

A special grant of $10,000 went to the Salvation Army of Mount Vernon. 

• This grant will help them purchase a freezer and refrigerator for a new Choice Pantry! The new units will be installed as part of the Salvation Army's renovation. This will allow families to "shop" for food that fits the needs of their family rather than just receive pre-selected food.  

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A grant of $6,000 went to First Church of the Nazarene for their Father’s Table Pantry and Hot Meal.

• Throughout the winter months they serve families with children through both their hot meal and pantry programs. In the past 6 months, they have served 81 households where children reside. They also have a number of families that attend their hot meal program on Wednesday night. This grant money will be used to purchase food needed to maintain these programs.

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Grants of $3,500 went to: 
Central Christian Church Food Pantry

•  They operate a monthly food pantry thru the Central Church facility in Mount Vernon.  Their clients receive a box of canned goods including soups, pasta, canned vegetables and canned meat (when available).  They also hand out flour, cooking oil, and juices along with fresh produce, frozen meat, & eggs.

 

Church on the Rise Food Pantry 

• They provide food and other product to the needy in the county by distributing food/other items every third Saturday of the month.

 

Covenant Church Food Pantry 

• Covenant Church Food Pantry is a group of volunteers (mostly members of the church) that work hard to obtain food and distribute it monthly to families in need. The money will be used to restock their shelves. 

 

Grants of $3,000 went to:

First Church of the Nazarene East Knox Food Bags

• This grant will be used to purchase food that will be given to families who need assistance over the weekends and winter breaks from school. Many of these are families with 8-10 members. The students do not have access to the school breakfast and lunch provided during the school week and are often left on their own to fulfill nutritional needs.

 

Lifepoint Church of Mount Vernon Backpacks of Hope

• Backpacks of Hope provides weekly weekend meals during the school year for students who are at risk of going without adequate food. This year, the program serves children from Dan Emmett, East, Columbia, Twin Oak, Pleasant Street, and Wiggin Street Elementary Schools, as well as the Knox County Career Center preschool and Absolutely Loved Learning Center.

 

Knox County Head Start - Head Start School Break Food Boxes

• During school breaks, Head Start children who typically receive from 1/2 to 2/3 of their daily recommended nutrition in classrooms miss out on meals. The Knox County Head Start provides support for nutrition over Winter and Spring breaks with food boxes that include all ingredients to prepare up to three dinners, with recipes, breakfast, and healthy snacks for families to ease a portion of their burden.

 

ACTS Food Pantry - Balanced Meals for Healthy Families

• This project will provide fresh ground beef or diced chicken to the families who come to the pantry in need.  They want to make sure that everyone who comes to the food pantry will walk away with everything they will need to make complete meals at home. They plan to print out quick healthy recipes to go along with the canned foods and proteins that are provided to families.

•  

Grants of $2,500 went to: 

CHOMP Ministries Free Pop Up Fresh Produce Market 2026

• CHOMP is a program extension of the Mid Ohio Food Collective geared toward providing fresh produce to low income community members. Pop up produce markets are non-storage facility organizations. Seasonal produce is picked up on the event day and distributed fully within hours. All leftover CHOMP produce is contracted to Interchurch Social Services in Mount Vernon immediately following the market.

 

The Escape Zone - EZ Diner

• The Escape Zone will provide meals to EZ children on Friday nights.  The aim is to provide kid-friendly meals but also to include healthy items like fresh fruits and vegetables and lean protein in the menus.

 

Gay Street United Methodist - Friday Night Community Hot Meals

• For at least 10 years, they have been serving the community through our Friday night Hot Meals program. On the third Friday of each month, they offer "The Closet," They hand out taxable items such as personal hygiene, feminine products and other essentials.

 

Knox County Career Center Food Pantry

• The Knox County Career Center Student Services Food Pantry provides various food items, hygiene and school supplies.

 

First Presbyterian Church Hot Meal

• A free balanced meal to anyone who needs it, served every Monday evening throughout the year.

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Grants of $1,500 went to:

Jacqueline McCalla-Cordle Children's Fund – 2026 Spring Break Distribution

• For the 2026 Spring Break project. They will be providing families in the Centerburg Local School District with nine days of food support—each day including three meals and one snack.

 

Knox County Task Force For Older Adults – Holiday Meals for Homebound Seniors

• The project will provide 120-240 holiday meal bags to homebound Knox county seniors in need. The meal bags are delivered by volunteers to carefully selected recipients to ensure they qualify as a Knox senior in need. Each meal bag typically includes a pre-cooked ham, canned vegetables, fresh fruit, instant potatoes, and rolls.

 

Alcohol and Drug Freedom Center of Knox County – Healthy Snack Program

• The Freedom Center’s Healthy Snack Program provides snacks to all clients attending appointments at our Knox County locations. In addition to snacks, the program offers limited emergency food or groceries to adults and families facing acute hunger.

 

Winter Sanctuary Emergency Homeless Shelter – Food for the Unhoused

• The Winter Sanctuary is the only emergency homeless shelter in Knox County.  These funds allow us to purchase fresh fruit, grab-and-go breakfast items, and gift cards for fast food restaurants to support guests who are unable to attend local hot meal programs.

 

Saint Paul's Episcopal Church Sunday Sanctuary - Sunday Sanctuary

• Sunday Sanctuary provides breakfast and a late lunch as well as an afternoon snack and provides a warm, safe environment for our (homeless) guests to nap, talk, watch movies and listen to tunes on their phones and just enjoy a welcoming space.

 

Fredericktown Senior Activity Center 

• They provide well balanced meals, games, exercises, crafts and a place to socialize. They also offer recreational outings into the community for local  Seniors.

 

Byron Saunders Foundation - Thanksgiving Meal Boxes

• Provides a free Thanksgiving meal box to families with everything needed to cook a complete Thanksgiving meal. Serves about 600 families

 

TouchPointe Community Resources - Healing our Community Project

• The Healing the Community project provides faith-based mentoring, relationship education, and job readiness training to individuals and families impacted by addiction, incarceration, and relational trauma.  Meals are provided during healing sessions to build trust and community

 

Grants of $1,000 went to:

Mount Vernon Association of Police Chaplains - First Response Family Support Initiative

• The First Response Family Support Initiative, led by the Mount Vernon Association of Police Chaplains (MVAPC), provides immediate food and lodging assistance to Knox County residents experiencing crisis situations such as domestic violence, house fires, medical emergencies, or sudden displacement.

 

Afterglow Christian Mission House

• Breakfast & lunch 7 days/week. Snacks for programming throughout the week.

 

Here are some other exciting totals!

 

The Knox County Elementary school collection was hosted by Psi Iota Xi 

Sorority. The students collected $18,054.23 and 6,633 food items!  (That is

5.315 truckloads of food)!

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Centerburg

450 Cans

$1,870.00

 

Danville

275 Cans

$270.00

 

East Knox

468 Cans

$924.75

 

Fredericktown

664 Cans

$2,415.00

 

Columbia

584 Cans

$1,642.10

 

Dan Emmett

837 Cans

$245.47

 

East

727 Cans

$1,185.75

 

Middle School

237 Cans

$1,661.00

 

Pleasant Street

683 Cans

$878.52

 

St Vincent de Paul

414 Cans

$1,073.93

 

Twin Oak

765 Cans

$2,886.16

 

Wiggin Street

529 Cans

$3,001.55

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School Drive Totals

6633

$18,054.23

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Knox County High Schools collected for Food for the Hungry this year. 

 

2025 High School Total – Confirmed Totals Coming Soon!

 

Centerburg High School: 
Collection dates were 12/1 – 12/10
2025 Final Total: $156.25

 

The Knox County Career Center: 
Collection dates were 12/2 – 12/11   

• Final Total for student collections: $7,226,.84 and 2,417 food items, equals 1.94 trucks

The winning labs were:
- Can Wars – HVAC. They brought in 1,318 food items
- Coin Wars – Sports Medicine. They brought in $413.81

• Overall Lab Winner – Collision Repair. They brought in $1,806.79

The Spring Car Show brought in $1,300
The T-Shirt and Sweatshirt Sales at the Fall Open House: $316.00 

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Fredericktown High School: 
Collection dates were 12/1 - 12/10
2025 Final Total: $1,562.57 and 364 cans of food

 

East Knox High School: 

Collection dates were 12/1 - 12/10

2025 Final Total: $928.82 

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The Knox County Career Center was VERY involved with this year’s Food For The Hungry.

 

The 2025 Online Silent Auction of themed gift baskets brought in a total of $4,064

 

This auction included 16 themed baskets that included gift certificates for goods and services at the Knox County Career Center labs.
The OSU basket filled with goodies for Buckeye fans was donated by the OSU Alumni Club of Knox County.
 

The themed basket totals for 2025:  

#1 - Car Care 1 Basket – $240, Buyer – Tricia Mullins

#2 - Car Care 2 Basket - $300, Buyer – Bob Tiell

#3 - Downtown Date Night Basket - $325, Buyer – Bob Tiell

#4 - Family Fun Basket - $325, Buyer -McKenzie Doup

#5 - Foodies Basket - $484, Buyer – Richard Primm

#6 - Gallagher Center Rental and Basket - $250, Buyer – Sarah Colon

#7 - For Her Basket - $175, Buyer – Nate Bellman

#8 - For Him Basket - $200, Buyer – Bob Tiell

#9 - Kid’s Electric Bicycle - $375, Buyer – Bette Mishey

#10 - Lashley Training Center Membership - $150, Buyer – Devyn Greenich

#11 - Mohican Getaway Basket - $330, Buyer – Dan Matheny

#12 - Northern Getaway basket - $250, Buyer – Olivia Stern

#13 - OSU Basket - $125, Buyer – Kathy Greenich

#14 - Pork BBQ Basket 1 - $160, Buyer – Karri Daubenmier

#15 - Pork BBQ Basket 2 - $160, Buyer – Gloria Yerxa

#16 - Wood Pellets (1 ton) - $155, Buyer – Andy Frye

#17 – Helmet - $60, Buyer – Wess McKown

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The OVERALL total raised from the Knox County Career Center - Student collections plus the online auction equals $11,290,84 and 2,417 food items.

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The 2025 Danville Wreath Auction brought in a total of $250

 

The 2025 Centerburg Wreath Auction brought in a total of $608

 

The Snowflake Gala: benefiting Knox County Food For The Hungry hosted at Kenyon College was a huge success.  

The 2025 gala fundraising totaled $89,616.57!  

The Snowflake Gala presented this year's William A. Stroud Jr. Award for community service to Bruce Jacklin.  

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The 2025 Kenyon President’s annual holiday reception collected brought in 1,000 food items.

Thanks to Kenyon’s faculty and staff for their donations.

 

 

The Sixth Annual Food For The Hungry Service Club Competition was also a huge success!  The 2025 Total was $17,753!
 

Congratulations to the VFW Post #4027 for being the TOP Club in the challenge. They collected $10,000!
 

Thanks to these Service Clubs for helping Food For The Hungry: 
Soroptomist Club of Mount Vernon and Knox County - $6,100
Rotary Club of Mount Vernon - $453
South Vernon United Methodist Women - $50
Loyal Women and Men’s Class of Grove Church - $50
Harrison Grange #1711 - $200
Moose Lodge #2555 and #100 - $900
 

Mount Vernon Nazarene University hosted several collection points and events through the Faith Works Program – to create hunger awareness on campus and raise funds for both food and client services. 

 

• Change Wars: $705,69

• Mario Kart Tournament: $70

• Pickle Ball Tournament: $115

• Advent Service: $69

• Bring a Buck Chapel: $779.06

• Happy Bean Coffee Shop Coffee Week: $400

• Esther Jetter Preschool - $880 and 175 food items 

• MVNU Athletics/Basketball Game: $350    

• Snowflake Gala Table Sponsorship: $1,000 

• Purchases in the Snowflake Gala Fund-A-Cause Auction: $800 

• Faculty/Staff Collections/Presidential Ask - $2,000

• Dr. Carson Castleman’s Presidential Match - $1,000  

MVNU’s Total - $8,168.75 and 205 food items

 

Mount Vernon Nazarene University presented the Stephen W. Zelkowitz Memorial Award to Captain Christine Moretz. This annual honor goes to a citizen of Knox County who exemplifies the spirit of community service, with a particular focus on their outstanding contributions to Food For The Hungry. Stephen W Zelkowitz, former president and general manager of Mount Vernon Broadcasting and president of Cablevision, was a prominent community leader known for his involvement in various charitable events. Zelkowitz, along with Charlie Kilkenny, played a pivotal role in leading the Food For The Hungry Initiative in Knox County. Christine has served as the Captain of the Mount Vernon Salvation Army since 2017. 

 

The 15th Annual Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk was held on Thanksgiving morning on the campus of Mount Vernon Nazarene University. WeRunMV hosted this annual fundraiser to benefit Food

For The Hungry.  

Donations totaled $1,837 and 663 items. 254 runners/walkers and multiple dogs participated.

 

First Place for Men – Logan Eggert from Mount Vernon 
First Place for Women – Lucy Rush from Mount Vernon 

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The 2025 Knox County Park District “Fire and Ice” Event to benefit Food For The Hungry raised a total of $2,227 and 706 food items.

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Other notable donations came from local businesses and organizations:

Ariel Corporation - $10,000

Kokosing Inc. - $10,000

Knox County Foundation - $5,000

Knox Community Hospital— Confirmed Totals Coming Soon!

Knox County Democratic Party: $760 and 657 food items

Country Club Rehabilitation Campus “Double the Donation” Collection – 1,264 food items

Knox County Realtors: $300

Danville Elementary School Student Council “Feather Fundraiser” - $1,212 
Mortellaro McDonalds - $2,000

AMVETS Post 95 and Ladies Auxiliary Post #95 - $500

Praisestock - $1,108.28

The Retreat/Oakwood Management - $1,000

CES Credit Union – 250 boxes of stuffing

The Knox County Jazz Orchestra Concert collected $1,104.66 and 157 food items
Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County – 9 boxes of food which equals 330 food items.

Elvis’ Lost Brother Event: Confirmed Totals Coming Soon!

Ellis Brothers: Confirmed Totals Coming Soon!
Apple Valley Lake Social Club: Confirmed Totals Coming Soon!

Rooted in Recovery Sober Living, “Together We Can” Collection: Confirmed Totals Coming Soon!

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2025 Collection Point Totals:

 

CENTERBURG: 

Hometown Market: Confirmed Totals Coming Soon!

Centerburg Interchurch Collection: $394

 

DANVILLE: 

Hometown Market -  Confirmed Totals Coming Soon!

Danville Interchurch Collection: $253

 

FREDERICKTOWN: 

Fredericktown Chevrolet - Confirmed Totals Coming Soon!

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GAMBIER: 

The Village Market - 140 food items and $6,362

 

MOUNT VERNON: 

Aldi - 600 food items and $266
 

Lanning’s Foods - 300 food items and $653

 

Baker’s IGA – 200 food items and $1,618

Wal-Mart Supercenter - 340 food items and $327

 

Kroger - 480 food items and $1,129

 

The Knox Memorial – 1,740 food items.  Confirmed Totals Coming Soon!

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THANK YOU for doing YOUR part to fight hunger in our community!

God BLESS you this Christmas!

*You can see pictures and videos at www.foodforthehungrycares.org
Click on the connect button and you’ll see a link to photo gallery and a video gallery.*

 

*You can also find the 2025 broadcast at www.mvnu.tv on the “On Demand” Tab.
 

For more information, log on to FoodForTheHungryCares.org. Food For The Hungry - Working together to care for our neighbors.

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To see our WNZR Food for the Hungry Recap Video, click HERE!

To see the Official Food for the Hungry Recap Video, click HERE!

To see the Snowflake Gala Announcement and Overall Announcement Video, click HERE!