The Morning Thing shined the spotlight on June First Friday today. We are excited to partner with Experience Mount Vernon for this special event.
Lacey Filkins, Executive Director for Experience Mount Vernon shared all the details of tonight’s event with us. She gave us highlights on the schedule, parking, food, family activities, bike valet and the theme. Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click the link below.
Come enjoy a fun summer evening with WNZR. It’s time to “Shake, Rattle & Roll” in downtown tonight! For more details, go to https://www.experiencemv.org/ You can see a map of the event, list of exhibitors and parking information below.
As food costs continue to rise, a new partnership in Knox County is working to provide extra support for local seniors.
WNZR’s Eric Brown recently spoke with Carolyn Fergus about a new food assistance opportunity available through Interchurch Social Services of Knox County.
Interchurch is partnering with Mid-Ohio Food Collective to offer the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which provides monthly food boxes to income-qualified adults age 60 and older.
According to Carolyn, the program is designed to help seniors stretch their food budgets while still receiving nutritious food items each month. Seniors who qualify will receive boxes filled with a variety of staple foods, including cereal, oats, pasta, rice, canned fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and protein sources. The contents of the boxes will vary from month to month, but the goal remains the same: helping supplement a senior’s diet with reliable food assistance.
Carolyn explained that participants will need to provide identification and proof of residency during the sign-up process, while income is self-reported on the application. She encouraged seniors who may qualify to begin signing up now ahead of the first shipment, which is expected to arrive in early June.
While the first delivery is expected to include around 90 food boxes, Carolyn says there is room for growth if community demand increases. She emphasized that the program is meant to serve as an additional resource for seniors and does not replace Interchurch’s regular pantry services.
In fact, she encouraged eligible seniors to continue utilizing the Interchurch food pantry, which offers fresh foods, frozen meats, and other grocery items throughout the month. The organization hopes the new program will provide even more stability for seniors facing rising grocery costs and financial pressures.
Food distribution will be available not only at the Mount Vernon office, but also through Interchurch locations in Centerburg, Fredericktown, and Danville, making the program more accessible to seniors across Knox County.
Carolyn also asked the community to continue praying for Interchurch, its staff, volunteers, and the families they serve as food assistance needs continue to grow throughout the county. She noted that volunteers are always needed to help distribute food and support daily operations.
For more information about the Commodity Supplemental Food Program or other Interchurch services, residents can call 740-397-4825 or click HERE!
For our Friday Favorites this week, we are celebrating the 50th Annual Utica Ice Cream Festival. The hosts shared their favorite ways to enjoy ice cream.
Click HERE to hear from Marcy, Eric, Olivia, Daniel and Ethan OR click on the link below.
Valentine’s Day is a special opportunity to show love in meaningful, tangible ways—whether you’ve been together for months or many years. While some couples enjoy a simple dinner out or chocolates and flowers, and others go all out with big adventures, celebrating your love doesn’t have to be expensive—especially with rising costs.
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart had six great date night ideas from Crosswalk.com
The most important thing isn’t how much you spend, but how intentionally you connect. With a little creativity, you can make the day truly special and deepen your bond without breaking the bank.
Looking for inspiration? Here are a few fun and meaningful Valentine’s date night ideas: 💖 A relaxing home spa day 🍽️ A cozy dinner with friends 🎬 A classic movie night at home
No matter how you celebrate, the goal is the same—spend quality time together and show the one you love just how much they mean to you
February is National Hot Breakfast Month. Today for our Friday Favorites, The Morning Thing hosts shared their favorite hot breakfast selections. This month, you are encouraged to take a little extra time to eat a hot breakfast with your family and friends. It is a perfect way to warm up in the winter weather.
Click HERE or the link below to hear what The Morning Thing hosts enjoy for breakfast.
It is a question and decision that we all have to face daily – What’s for dinner? We are here to help! We found a list of 15 Casseroles for your 9×13 Pan – those recipes that are just like Mom used to make. These are the yummy comfort food recipes that are perfect for a cold winter night. So try 1 or 2 and enjoy some time around the dinner table with your family!
Click HERE to find the full list of recipes from AllRecipes.com
Here are the recipes that Marcy shared today on the show.
Today on The Morning Thing, we wanted to share some warm ideas as the cold season ramps up! So these are some simple and tasty soup recipes for you and your family!
Our hosts favorite:
Black Bean and Salsa Soup
Ingredients:
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 ½ cups vegetable broth
1 cup chunky salsa
1 teaspoon ground cumin
4 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
Directions:
In an electric food processor or blender, combine beans, broth, salsa, and cumin. Blend until fairly smooth.
Heat the bean mixture in a saucepan over medium heat until thoroughly heated.
Ladle soup into 4 individual bowls, and top each bowl with 1 tablespoon of the sour cream and 1/2 tablespoon green onion.
Click HERE to view the rest of the soup ideas and how to make them!
January is National Soup Month, and to celebrate we wanted to give you some different soup recipes that you can try out. For our Friday Favorites, The Morning Thing hosts share their favorite soup recipes.
Click HERE to hear from the hosts or click the link below.
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!
We have been talking about the Fredericktown Christmas Walk all week.
Today on the Morning Thing, Kristine Lindemann shared about the gingerbread house contest!
She talked about what the contest normally looks like and where it is located. Kristine also explains what she is most looking forward to this Saturday and shared some other details about the Fredericktown Christmas Walk!
The Fredericktown Christmas Walk is happening this Saturday from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
To find more information about the event click HERE!
Rise and Shine 