Category: FFTHCares

Knox Community Jazz Orchestra to Host Food For The Hungry Benefit Concert

The Knox Community Jazz Orchestra will bring an evening of classic big band music to Kenyon College on Saturday, November 14, with a benefit concert supporting Food For The Hungry. WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with Ted Buehrer, founder and director of the orchestra, about the group’s history and its continued commitment to serving the Knox County community.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the picture link below.

Founded by Buehrer in 2017, the Knox Community Jazz Orchestra is celebrating its 10th year. Buehrer serves as the organization’s president and music director while also playing trumpet. The 18-member ensemble brings together students, educators, working professionals, and retirees who share a love of music and a desire to make a difference in their community.

The free concert, titled “When You’re Smiling,” begins at 7 p.m. in Ross Hall at Kenyon College. The evening will feature beloved jazz standards, including “Fly Me to the Moon,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” and “Embraceable You.” Kenyon College senior Benjamin Priestland will also join the orchestra as a vocalist for several selections.

This year marks the fifth time the orchestra has partnered with Food For The Hungry for its annual benefit concert. Although admission is free, attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items or make a financial donation to support the campaign.

Buehrer says the partnership reflects the orchestra’s desire to be a positive presence in the community. He emphasizes the importance of working together, sharing resources, and using individual talents to help neighbors facing food insecurity. The concert also reflects this year’s Food For The Hungry theme, “Working Together to Care for Our Neighbors.”

Community members are invited to enjoy an evening of music while supporting an important cause in Knox County!

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Centerburg High School Students Lead a Food For The Hungry Collection

WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with Danielle Mincks, intervention specialist and high school student council advisor at Centerburg High School, about the school’s participation in the 2026 Food For The Hungry campaign.

Click HERE to listen to the conversation, or click the image link below!

Mincks has been teaching for 20 years collectively, she’s been at Centerburg for four years. She shares how her role as the High School advisor to help with supporting the community and being a key piece of Knox County. Next week the middle school and high schools will be collecting for Food For The Hungry during first period classes.

Their drive next week is only Monday through Friday, and only in the morning because they really want to build up a solid collection before Thanksgiving. She talks about how students want to help the community and they have extra motivation with classroom competitions, teachers matching donations, and the countywide pizza party awarded to top participating classes.

Minks mentions how Centerburg focuses on generosity, respect, integrity, and thoughtfulness through its school culture and positive behavior programs. Rather than setting a specific fundraising target, the school hopes to surpass its previous contributions and continue building support for local families facing food insecurity. She wants students and community members to continue working together to care for our neighbors in Knox County and talks about last year’s campaign and how a student wanted others to benefit from food assistance and to donate a his dinner from last night, a box of macaroni and cheese.

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Danville FFA Supports Food for the Hungry Drive

WNZR’s Ethan Hershberger talks with Cory Myers, teacher and FFA advisor at Danville High School, about Danville FFA’s involvement in the Food for the Hungry Drive!

Click HERE or on the picture link below to hear the full conversation!

Myers explains how the project connects with the FFA motto, “Living to Serve,” and gives students an opportunity to give back to their community.

The collection runs November 2–6, with Danville Junior High and High School students collecting non-perishable food items to benefit the Danville Interchurch. Monetary donations will go through Food for the Hungry. Myers shares how the project teaches students the importance of serving others and continues Danville’s tradition of neighbors helping neighbors.

Click HERE for more information about Food For The Hungry!

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Food For the Hungry: Bringing Hope to Knox County

WNZR’s Ethan Hershberger is joined by Tanner Cooper Risser, the new Annual Drive and Community Relations Director for Food For the Hungry, to talk about the organization’s mission of caring for neighbors throughout Knox County!

Click HERE or on the picture link below to hear the full conversation!

Food For the Hungry is an annual food and financial drive that brings the community together to support local needs. Tanner shares about his role working with the board and connecting with the community to spread the word about Food For the Hungry and its mission. He also highlights several upcoming opportunities to get involved, including the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning, Fire and Ice in December, and the Food For the Hungry Drive and Snowflake Gala on Friday, December 11.

There are many ways to support Food For the Hungry, whether by donating, volunteering, or contributing food. Tanner also encourages the community to pray for open and generous hearts as people consider how they can give their time, energy, food, or financial resources to help their neighbors.

Click HERE to learn more about Food For The Hungry!

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Food for the Hungry talks about Community Support

WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart is joined by Austin Swallow Chairman of the Board of Directors and Tanner Cooper Risser Annual Drive and Community Relations Director, both working for Food For the Hungry.\

Click HERE to hear the full conversation!

Austin shared about their annual drive and how there is always a need for community support when it comes to hunger. Tanner shared about the responsibilities of his new title and how excited he is to serve.

How to get Involved

Austin talks about how you can get involved with Food For the Hungry by going to their website, foodforthehungrycares.org or go to their facebook page and look there. There is also a form to allow food for the hungry to help promote an event and get you involved. Tanner talks about how you never know when you’ll be in need for food for the hungry. You can get in by emailing him at director@foodforthehungrycares.org or call at 330-521-8474.

Prayer

Tanner asks you pray for him as he adjusts into his new role, he asks you pray for them to get to know each other and have the community to hear about their ministry and get involved. Austin asks you pray for continued support and get involved as help with the food security issue in Knox county.

Click HERE for more information on Food for the Hungry!

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New Leadership Search Underway as Food for the Hungry Continues Year-Round Impact

Food for the Hungry is stepping into a new season, and there are some important updates for the Knox County community.

During a recent conversation on WNZR, Marcy Rinehart talked with Lisa Lloyd, Vice President of the Board of Directors, about a leadership transition and what’s ahead for the organization.

Click HERE for the full conversation!

Executive Director Kathy Brechler is moving into full retirement. While she has served in the role for the past two years, her connection to Food for the Hungry goes back to 2011, when she helped launch the Snowflake Gala. She also created Pantry Partners Access Meetings, bringing local food pantries together to share resources and better serve the community.

As the organization looks ahead, the board is now searching for an Annual Drive and Community Relations Director. This role will oversee the December drive, manage community relationships, coordinate events, and help lead grant programs. The goal is to have someone in place by early summer, with a soft application deadline of April 24th.

At the same time, April is a busy month. The Summer Grant Program is open now through noon on April 30th. These grants support organizations providing meals during the summer, especially for students who no longer have access to school breakfasts and lunches.

It’s a reminder that Food for the Hungry serves Knox County all year long—not just during the holidays.

You can stay connected through their Facebook page or by visiting the website, where you’ll find pantry listings, volunteer opportunities, event information, and applications for both the open position and summer grants.

Click HERE to learn more about Food For The Hungry!

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Knox County Comes Together to Raise over $260,000 for Food on Food For The Hungry!

Food For The Hungry LIVE and Drive Day on December 12, 2025 was one to remember! From start to finish, the day was filled with generosity, celebration, and community spirit.

Click HERE to hear comments from those associated with the broadcast!

By the end of Drive Day, an incredible $260,465 had been raised along with 12.5 truckloads of food—a powerful reminder of what happens when Knox County comes together. Donors, volunteers, and grant recipients all played a part in making the day such a success, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

To relive the highlights, be sure to watch the recap video created by FFTH volunteer Ben Slater, which perfectly captures the energy and heart behind the event.

Looking ahead, our 2025 Drive Goal is $340,000, and we’re excited to keep the momentum going. Want to learn more or help make an impact?

Click HERE to learn more about Food For The Hungry!

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Olivia Stern and Kathy Brechler talk about Food For The Hungry Live and Drive Day!

Food For The Hungry Live and Drive Day is happening today (12/12)!

Olivia Stern, Digital Content and Marketing Director, and Kathy Brechler, Executive Director of Food For The Hungry, talk about what today looks like.

They share where most of the funds will be going and how you can get involved. They also give other details about the live broadcast.

For more information about today click HERE!

To watch the live broadcast click HERE!

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Joe Rinehart and Jayme McMillan share about Food For The Hungry Live!

Joe Rinehart and Jayme McMillan are both assistant professors of communications at MVNU, and they lead the live broadcast for Food For The Hungry.

They both share what it takes to make this event possible and why they believe that it is important. They also explain the details behind the broadcast.

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.  

For more information about Food For The Hungry click HERE!

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Kelly Jaeger talks Food For The Hungry with WNZR!

Kelly Jaeger works with WRP CPAs and is also the treasurer for the Food For The Hungry board!

Kelly goes over all of the amazing ways to give and the impact that giving has on the community. She also highlights the donations staying local and how far your dollar can really go.

Click HERE for more info on WRP CPAs!

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