We got the chance to chat with Jim Riggle, the Principle of Academics, Attendance, and Discipline at the Knox County Career Center.
He shared that they had over 400 new students apply to be in their program at the first chance application night last Thursday.
He also talked about the canned food drive, and change drive they are doing to support Food For The Hungry.
To learn more about the Career Center click HERE!
We sat down with Austin Swallow, the Food For The Hungry Board President! They are getting started early this year by helping families with some pop-up food distributions in our community.
Austin tells us the motivation behind these events and he gives us the details on one happening very soon! He also talks about the upcoming Food For The Hungry Drive happening in December.
To learn more about FFTH click HERE!
We spoke with John Chidester, Director of the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County, about their collection for Food For The Hungry.
He shared a brief history of their involvement with the drive, and he tells us which branches they accept donations at.
John also explains why he believes it is important to support Food For The Hungry.
To learn more about the library’s collection click HERE!
Eric Brown got to speak with the Knox Community Jazz Orchestra Director, Ted Buehrer! Ted talks about their partnership with Food For The Hungry and talks about the concert. It is more than just a concert so he also details the entire event and lets you know what to bring!
To learn more about the KCJO click HERE!
Debbie Ruggles, who is Executive Director of the Knox County Chamber of Commerce is also involved with the group Psi Iota Xi.
Click HERE for the full conversation!
She talks about the group which is a women’s philanthropic organization and focuses on helping others in the area.
They got involved with Food For The Hungry because their mission closely aligns with the groups mission, so it was a natural fit.
Debbie says they are organizing the Food For the Hungry’s Elementary School drives. The drive is underway through November 21st. She says students can bring canned food and non-perishable food items. They are also accepting monetary donations.
Debbie explains why the food collection is incredibly important at this time of the year due to massive increased food costs. She says every food items or donation will stay in Knox County.
She says there are rewards for top collectors and the top class will receive a pizza party and top individual student from each school will be featured on FFTH Live on December 12th!
Debbie also thanks all the teachers, administration, staff and especially the students and parents who encourage the students to donate.
Debbie Ruggles talks about the purchasing power of monetary donations. She says for every dollar donated, Food For The Hungry organizers can buy $4.56 at the Mid-Ohio Collective.
She says that every can, non-perishable food item, and dollar helps those in need in Knox County.
She asks that students and parents reach out to their family and friends to help each student donate to the drive.
Debbie also talks about what Food For The Hungry’s slogan, “Working together to care for our neighbors” means to her.
She says Psi Iota Xi is bringing back their tea fundraiser in late spring.
Click on THIS link for their Facebook page and THIS link for the organization’s website!
Click HERE for Food For The Hungry!
Knox County Career Center Teachers and Project Advisors Cassie Gray and Amy Rine joins student Carter Dickerson and to talk about their T-Shirt Fundraiser to support Food For The Hungry.
Click HERE for the full conversation!
Carter says that they do this event every year and Amy explains why the students decided to help Food for The Hungry. Amy says its really important to give back to the community and support those in need.
Cassie talks about their theme “Believe there is Good in the World (Be the Good) and why they decided to use that theme.
Carter says they have crewneck sweatshirts ($25) and t-shirts ($15) in olive green and cardinal red and sizes range from Extra Small to 4-XL.
Amy says shirts are on sale November 20th. The shirts will ship December 10th and should arrive by the Food For The Hungry broadcast on December 12th.
Cassie says the student officers have really managed the program. They met earlier this year, picked the theme and the high school staff helped select the colors. The students also sell the shirts during the lunch period.
The students will also be volunteering the KCCC Open House and in student competitions in December.
Click HERE to view their store!
Click HERE for the Food For The Hungry website!
WNZR was honored to be part of a pop-up food distribution Saturday as part of a partnership between Food For The Hungry of Knox County, Interchurch Social Services and Knox County Foundation.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation.
Carolyn Fergus with Interchurch Social Services of Knox County talked to Marcy Rinehart about the Pop-Up Distribution at Habitat For Humanity on Saturday. They were able to open early because of the volunteers being so organized. She adds that they had food to feed over 300 families.
Food For The Hungry Board President Austin Swallow talks about how the volunteers including the many organizations who took part in the Pop Up Distribution happen. He said they started planning in early October in the event the government shutdown happened and continued and how it would effect Knox Countians in need.
Austin says that they had about $23,000 worth of food and products that they were distributing on Saturday. He says that most of the money came from Food For The Hungry, but Carolyn was able to get a large portion for free from the Mid Ohio Food Collective.
Click HERE for to learn more about Food For The Hungry of Knox County.
Click HERE for to learn more about Interchurch Social Services.
Click HERE for to learn more about the Knox County Foundation.
We are recapping the 2024 Food For The Hungry Drive held on Friday, December 13th.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation!
The Volunteers and WNZR crew share their thoughts, feelings about the drive and how every single donation whether food or monetary impacts the Knox County community.
Don’t forget the Food For The Hungry drive continues through the end of 2024.
Click HERE to see how you can still make a difference in a Knox County resident’s life in 2024!
Food For The Hungry Executive Director Kathy Brechler and Digital Content and Marketing Director Olivia talk about the excitement around the Food For The Hungry Live event!
Click HERE for the full conversation!
Olivia gives a stat that 14,000 folks do not have enough food in the home to feed their family while Kathy talks about her first time in her role with the event.
Olivia talks about the different events that were held beginning in the summer all the way through today including the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving raising $1,600 and over 600 cans of food.
Kathy talks about the Centerburg Wreath Silent auction that closes today at the Park National Bank location at 12pm. The Danville Wreath Silent Auction at Park National branch closes at 2pm.
Olivia adds the Knox County Career Center auction features almost 20 items including over a dozen baskets and ends today at 3pm.
Olivia and Kathy that totals from the Food For The Hungry Live event will not be announced until next Monday, but more importantly, the entire Food For The Hungry campaign does not end until December 31st.
Click HERE to find out more about Food For The Hungry!
MVNU Professors Joe Rinehart and Jayme McMillan share how MVNU students are involved with the project including camera operations, graphics, etc.
Click HERE to listen to the full conversation!
Joe talks about how the broadcast plays a part in the student’s development in the working world while simultaneously showing the student that they can use their talents to represent Christ to make an impact on the lives of others.
Jayme adds the importance of service learning. He says they try to prepare students in class, but the student’s talents really shine on broadcast day.
Joe says that you watch the live broadcast at WNZR.TV and will be simulcast on WMVO 100.9 FM and 93.7 HD2, and on the Food For The Hungry Facebook page. WNZR will be bringing you live updates throughout the day.
Rise and Shine 