How to Lessen the Christmas Stress

We’re less than a week out from Christmas! How’s your to-do list looking? Do you have gifts still to buy? To wrap? Any party planning to do? Cleaning the house? Preparing for visiting relatives? How about cookie baking?

It always seems that the closer we get to the big day, the more the stress rises. We might admit verbally that Jesus is the reason for the season, but instead of being like Mary and focusing on Him, we are like Martha and worry about the preparations and details and task lists and on and on and on and on.

It’s exhausting.

And it’s not how this time of the year should be, either. This is a celebration of God’s redemptive story, of the greatest gift the world has seen. We are celebrating the arrival of the Prince of Peace. How can we truly do that without feeling his peace?

There are several things you can do this week to lessen the effects of stress as Christmas draws near. You can find the entire list we shared on the show HERE. First, and above all else, be sure to not just acknowledge Jesus with your words this season, but truly spend time with Him every day. Invite the Prince of Peace into your life and let Him work His wonders.

Merry Christmas!

Don’t miss Festival of Lights on Saturday, 12/17!

WNZR’s Wesley Boston talked with Lacey Filkins, Executive Director of Experience Mount Vernon about an exciting event happening this Saturday, 12/17.
Festival of Lights returns for 2022!
Listen in as Lacey shares all the details of this fun event for families. You can have fun seeing some beautiful light displays and cast your vote for winners in 3 categories:
Categories are:

  • Best Gingerbread
  • Best White Lights
  • Best Colorful Lights

Click HERE to hear the entire conversation.

Make sure to listen to WNZR for a special selection of Christmas music. You can enjoy a mix of time-tested classics and new Christmas songs as you enjoy the Festival of Lights Trail.
Connect with WNZR on your radio at 90.9FM, online at wnzr.fm or download our smartphone apps for both Apple and Android devices. You can find WNZR on the iTunes App Store, or Google Play. WNZR can also be found on the Tune In Radio app. Take WNZR with you wherever you go this Christmas season!

The Morning Thing Friday Favorites celebrate NEW Christmas Music

Today for our Friday Favorites, The Morning Thing hosts shared their favorite new Christmas Songs.

Click HERE to hear Marcy, Allison and Wesley talk about their favorite new songs.

You can see the complete list of the 21 NEW Christmas songs at WNZR at https://www.wnzr.fm/christmas-music-debut

30 Christmas Prayers and Blessings for Family and Loved Ones

Over the past two days, The Morning Thing has shared some powerful Christmas Prayers and Blessings from Crosswalk.com.

Our hope is that you can join us to take a pause this holiday season, and spend time in prayer.

Click HERE to see the list of 30 Prayers and Blessings.

The Food For The Hungry crew share their thoughts about the Drive Day

The Food For The Hungry Drive Day broadcast was held on December 9th at the Knox Memorial Theater. As of 12/13, a total of $274,000 and 18.3 truckloads of food have been collected! Thank you for doing your part to fight hunger in our community!

We spoke to several members of our team who collect donations, ran a camera, hosted the broadcast, and worked hard to make the broadcast go smoothly.

Click HERE to hear comments from:

Alaina Bonham

Audrey Spearman

Ben Alexander

Carolyn Fergus

Captain Christine Moretz

Curtis Newland

Jayme McMillan

Jeff Mabe

Joe Rinehart

John Nixon

Jonathon Langdon

JR Bonham

Judah Keith

Kasey Middaugh

Lori Lybarger

MacKenzie Holder

Matt Salvucci

Ricky Geyer

Ryan Tiell

Zoe Bricker

To stay up to date with Food For The Hungry, go to foodforthehungrycares.org

WNZR talks to Captain Christine Moretz of the Mount Vernon Salvation Army about Food For The Hungry

WNZR sat down with Captain Christine Moretz of the Mount Vernon Salvation Army to talk about Food For The Hungry.

Christine tells us about-
-Her work with the Salvation Army
-How the economy has created an increased need for giving due to increased food pantry visits
-The Salvation Army’s service visits this year and last year
-The Salvation Army’s biggest needs this year
-The top 10 list of most needed items
-How your $1 donation becomes $5.22 worth of food
-How monetary donations help your neighbors in more ways than feeding them, including helping for housing, clothing, food for students through the year, transportation, and medical appointments
-Christine’s goals for the Salvation Army of Mount Vernon in 2023
-How you can pray for her
-She shares a story of how Food For The Hungry helps our neighbors in Mount Vernon
-Christine gives encouragement for helping your neighbors in need. She tells us about what the “Working Together to Care for our Neighbors” means to her.

Click HERE to listen to the conversation.

To learn about how you can give to Food For The Hungry, go to foodforthehungrycares.org

WNZR talks to Cindy Martin of Danville Interchurch Social Services about Food For The Hungry

WNZR talked to Cindy Martin, Branch Manager of the Danville Interchurch Social Services.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation.

Cindy tells us about:
• How long she’s been with Interchurch Social Services
• An update on their service numbers and comparing this year to last year. Service numbers are up because of the economy. Danville has seen a 25% increase in the past year.
• She gives an overview of the food items needed for the food pantry
• How your donation of just $1 becomes $5.22 worth of food at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective
• The many ways Food For The Hungry helps people- the dollars help feed people, but can also help with rent, utility bills or medical bills.
• Goals for 2023 for Danville Interchurch Social Services.
• She asks for prayers as they continue to serve Danville families
• How “Working Together to Care for our Neighbors,” the Food For The Hungry slogan, means that her pantry can serve clients more generously.

For more information about all the ways you can be involved with Food For The Hungry, go to foodforthehungrycares.org

WNZR talks to Katie Frazier of Fredericktown Interchurch Social Services about Food For The Hungry

WNZR talked to Katie Frazier, Branch Manager of the Fredericktown Interchurch Social Services.

Lori tells us about:

  • How long she’s been with Interchurch Social Services
  • An update on their service numbers, and comparing this year to last year
  • She gives an overview of the food items needed, as well as the taxable items like hygiene products and soaps
  • How your donation of just $1 becomes $5.22 worth of food at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective
  • The many ways Food For The Hungry helps people- it puts food on family’s tables, but also helps clients pay for car repairs, ongoing education, summer lunch programs for students, and school supplies
  • Katie’s goals for Fredericktown Interchurch Social Services in 2023. She wants to improve food selection and availability at the pantry
  • She asks for prayers as they help people and their situations
  • Katie thanks the community for their generosity
  • How “Working Together to Care for our Neighbors,” the Food For The Hungry slogan, shows that it is good for the community to care for their neighbors in need

Click HERE to listen to the conversation.

For more information about all the ways you can be involved with Food For The Hungry, go to foodforthehungrycares.org

WNZR talks with Lori Totman about Fire and Ice

WNZR talked to Lori Totman, Director of the Knox County Park District, about Fire and Ice, a fun community event that benefits Food For The Hungry.

Lori tells us about:

  • The history of Fire and Ice. This is the 7th year for the event
  • All of the details! It will be held December 9th, after the Food For The Hungry Drive. Parking is at the Millwood Church of Christ, and a shuttle service will be provided to take you from the church to the waterfall in Honey Run Falls to see the 600 luminaries light up the night.
  • Shuttle service starts at 4:45pm at the church, and the final shuttle leaves at 8:15pm. There will be a shuttle for wheelchair and walker users that will take them to a special deck to see the whole scene.
  • She thanks the volunteers who make Fire and Ice possible
  • The importance of connecting Fire and Ice and Food For The Hungry. Volunteers will be there to collect food and money to support Food For The Hungry.
  • She encourages the community to give to Food For The Hungry this year. People deserve to live in food security, not insecurity, and Food For The Hungry helps with that.
  • “Working Together to Care for our Neighbors,” the Food For The Hungry slogan, tells Lori that, because food insecurity occurs year-round, we should all work together to keep our neighbors fed through the year. Giving during Food For The Hungry helps with this year-round aid.

Click HERE to listen to the conversation.

For more information about all the ways you can be involved with Food For The Hungry, go to foodforthehungrycares.org

WNZR talks with Carolyn Fergus and Shawn Dugan about their involvement with Food For The Hungry

We got to talk with Carolyn Fergus, Executive Director of Interchurch Social Services.

She tells us about the following:

  • How long she’s worked with Interchurch Social Services. This is her first Food For The Hungry, but she’s donated in past Drives
  • Her job as Executive Director of Interchurch Social Services. She’s in charge of all four branches
  • An overview of the service numbers in 2021 and 2022
  • The top 10 items needed, like peanut butter, soups, sides, boxed potatoes, as well as coffee, tea, and hot chocolate
  • How a $1 donation becomes $5.22 worth of food at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective.
  • How Food For The Hungry allows Interchurch to help people. They help provide food, but they can also help with rent, utilities bills, prescriptions, and gas vouchers for out-of-town medical appointments.
  • Her goals for 2023- fresh foods to give their clients and having the pantry open for visits every week.
  • She asks for prayer for unity between all four Interchurch branches.
  • That the Food For The Hungry slogan (“Working Together to Care for our Neighbors”) means that no one gets left behind in food insecurity, and that the four Interchurch branches work together to care for their neighbors in need.
  • No one should be afraid to ask for help. Reach out to the Interchurch Social Services in your community by calling, emailing, or visiting in person. To find the contact details of the branch nearest to you, visit https://www.interchurchknox.org/

We also talked with Shawn Dugan about the Knox County High School’s Food For The Hungry collection.

He tells us about:

  • When the collections wrap up at each high school
    • Fredericktown- 12/6
    • Danville- 12/7
    • Mount Vernon- 12/7
    • Centerburg- 12/8
    • Knox County Career Center- 12/8
  • The competition between the schools to raise the most food and money. Food For The Hungry hands out an award for the school to raise the most food and funds, and the students like to beat the previous year’s record.
  • How Shawn has been involved in Food For The Hungry.
  • Some of the fun competitions at some of the schools. Fredericktown is raffling off basketball tickets and a gift card to the Brickhouse Grind, and the Knox County Career Center has their own lab competitions and unique collections.
  • How the Food For The Hungry slogan (“Working Together to Care for our Neighbors”) shows that everyone is your neighbor and you can do something to help.

Click HERE to listen to these conversations.

For more information about all the ways you can be involved with Food For The Hungry, go to foodforthehungrycares.org

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