Category: health

The United Way of Knox County shares their 2023 Annual Report

The United Way of Knox County hosted their annual meeting and donor recognition lunch on March 7th.
They shared highlights from the 2023 Campaign and 2023 Annual Report.

WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with Lori Jones Perkins, Executive Director.
Click HERE to hear their full conversation.
Lori shared some outstanding stats:
– Only 1.06% of pledges are unpaid (that return is amazing)
– 85% of donations go directly to support their partner agencies
– Less than 15% is used for administrative costs

She also talked about the process of how organizations apply to become a partner agency and receive funds from the United Way. They have a Community Impact Panel that listens to the presentations and gives scores and comments on each organization. These reports go to a Community Investment Committee that makes allocation recommendations based on the reports from the Community Impact Panel. Then the full United Way board votes for the final allocations.

Lori also talked about the accountability of the United Way.
The annual report for 2023 is available to pick up at the office. It will be shared on the website soon – uwayknox.org
She talks about how every dollar matters and makes a difference.
Lori mentions how we will see the United Way out more in the community in 2024!

Marcy also talked with Halle Krajenski, Program Director for the United Way
Click HERE to hear their full conversation.
Marcy and Halle talk about the three pillars for United Way funding:
Health: In 2023 United Way invested $316,930 in 13 Health Programs with 9 different partner agencies.
Education: In 2023 United Way invested $155,722 in 8 Education Programs with 7 different Partner Agencies
Financial Stability: In 2023 United Way invested $201,300 in Financial Stability Programs with 7 Partner Agencies

Halle also shared an exciting report about other United Way projects:

  • The Imagination Library was started by Dolly Parton, to give children reading and literacy skills. We are at 61% rate of Knox County children participating in the program. In 2023, 27,038 books were delivered in 2023.
  • Crunch Out Knox County – 552 4th graders were able to engage in a 6-week program learning about making healthy choices for life.
  • There are 3 after-school programs at East, Dan Emmett, and Pleasant Street Elementary schools providing homework help and enrichment activities
  • Free Tax Preparation Assistance – United Way completed 551 returns for 2023

Stay connected at the website – uwayknox.org (it is in the midst of changes)
Social Media – United Way of Knox County
Office – 305 East High St. in Mount Vernon

You can give on the website or mail a check to the office.
Scroll down to see some exciting numbers shared in the 2023 Annual Report.

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Want to try a NEW recipe for 2024? The Morning Thing is here to help!

This week, The Morning Thing celebrated trying NEW things in the NEW year. All week long, we shared fun activities to try in 2024.

Many of us want to eat healthier, it is one of the top New Year’s resolutions.
We all want to spend less time in the drive-thru and more time around the dinner table with our family and friends.
We are excited to link you to 18 different recipes that you can try in 2024! The editors and staff members of Southern Living Magazine came up with a list of the recipes that topped their must-make lists of 2024. Click HERE to see the full list!

Here are the recipes that Marcy and Josiah talked about this morning.

 Chicken Salad

Cheddar Cheese Straws

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Million Dollar Spaghetti

Honey Chai Granola

Chocolate Chip Pie

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Happy New Year from The Morning Thing

Today is special! It is a fresh start for a New Year with new possibilities and opportunities.

Today on the show, Marcy Rinehart shared some ways that you can celebrate this special day.
Click HERE to see ways to celebrate the occasion from Good Housekeeping.

Some of our favorites include:
– Go to the Movies
– Start a New Book
– Treat Yourself to an at Home Spa Day
– Binge a TV Marathon
– Cheer for Your Favorite College Football Team
– Check out a Parade
– Try a Good-Luck Dish
Click HERE for a list of 8 New Year’s Foods to Bring Good Luck. (This list will still work for 2024)

We also talked about resolutions on the show. New Year’s Resolutions can be hard to keep sometimes. We shared 10 tips that will help you keep them this year.
Click HERE to see the complete list and read the full article from Very Well Mind.

  1. Choose a Specific Goal
  2. Limit Your Resolutions – Focus on One Goal at a Time
  3. Put Time Into Planning – Make a Detailed Plan
  4. Start With Small Steps – Small Steps Lead to Success
  5. Avoid Repeating Past Failures
  6. Remember That Change Is a Process
  7. Get Support
  8. Renew Your Motivation
  9. Keep Working on Your Goals – Keep a Resolution Journal
  10. Learn and Adapt


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The Food For The Hungry Crew celebrates a day of giving!

On Friday, 12/8, a very large broadcast crew met and worked together to bring the 2023 Food For The Hungry Broadcast to the Knox County community.

We brought in equipment and expertise from several companies, over 25 college students from Mount Vernon Nazarene University, two MVNU professors and a lot of volunteers.

The Knox Memorial and Theater buzzed with excitement as we shared check presentations, total announcements from many events and collections, and handed out 21 Winter Grants to local food initiatives. It was an incredible day!
Our current Food For The Hungry total is $263,502.08 and 11 truckloads of food!
Click HERE to listen to the crew as they share their thoughts after a 7-hour broadcast raising funds and celebrating a giving community.
The drive continues until 12/31 and you can still give at http://www.foodforthehungrycares.org
Last year, the extra donations over the 2022 goal enabled Food For The Hungry to give out $25,000 in Summer Grants to help feed kids over the summer months. Every dollar counts!
Thanks for helping us to live out the mission, “Working Together to Care for Our Neighbors”!

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The Turkey Trot returns to Thanksgiving Morning!

Are you ready for Thanksgiving?
The Morning Thing has an idea on how to make the day even better.
Come out to the annual Turkey Trot to benefit Food For The Hungry.
We talked with Scott Burgess from WeRunMV about this annual event.
When: Thanksgiving morning. Registration opens up at 8am, the race starts at 9am
Where: R.R. Hodges Chapel on the campus of Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Who: Everyone is invited including canines
What to bring: Non-perishable food and dollars to benefit the Food For The Hungry campaign

Scott talks about how cash feed more. $1.00 = $4.89 of buying power at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective.
All donations stay here in Knox County to support families in our community.

To find out more, go to www.foodforthehungrycares.org

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Today is Kick-Off Day for the 2023 Food For The Hungry Drive

Today, The Morning Thing featured a special conversation with Lisa Mazzari, FFTH Executive Director and Olivia Stern, Digital Content and Marketing Director.

The ladies shared an in-depth look at this year’s campaign.
Click HERE to hear the entire conversation or click the link below.

The topics included:

  • History of the organization and campaign
  • Dates for this year’s collection and broadcast
  • This year’s goal
  • How the legacy of giving is the true success story of Food For The Hungry
  • How this collection is really making a difference in our community.
  • Information about the Partner Board and their involvement
  • Highlights of the 2023 FFTH Event Calendar
  • How to stay connected
  • Distribution of funds
  • How FFTH is a local drive to benefit local families in Knox County
  • The impact of $1.00. In 2023, $1.00 will buy $4.89 in groceries at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective
  • How to give
  • Summer Grants
  • Winter Grants
  • Discussion about the mission of FFTH – “Working Together To Care For Our Neighbors”

If you would like to volunteer, call or text Lisa Mazzari at 740-398-0569 or
email lisam.ffth@gmail.com

Follow Food For The Hungry:
 – Facebook @Food For The Hungry Knox County
 – Instagram @ffthcares
 – Website – www.foodforthehungrycares.org

Food For The Hungry Board of Directors:
– Austin Swallow
– Jacob Doup
– Curtis Newland
– Marcy Rinehart
– Joe Rinehart
– Michelle Coscia
– Jim McLaughlin
– Lisa Lloyd
– Chelsea Porter
– Jim Riggle
– Melanie Snow
– Jared Stein

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Feeling down? Improve your mental health with some good daily habits

October 10th is World Mental Health Day, so today we wanted to share some advice with you about boosting your mental health.

Caring for your mental health can lead to an improved mood, reduced anxiety, clearer thinking, deeper relationships, and improved self-esteem and confidence. Mental health is something that effects everyone, so make sure you are taking care of yourself.

To boost your mental health, Healthline.com suggests that you get good sleep, cut back on social media, strengthen your relationships, move your body (on your own terms), enjoy some nutrient-rich foods, know when to take it easy, make time for rest, and get some sunshine.

Click HERE to read the full article from Healthline.

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Let’s Cultivate Gratitude!

It can be a difficult thing to do, but its not necessarily about trying to stay positive all the time. Instead, its more about trying to pull the good from the situations and circumstances of every day life. If we do this, we can find that there is a lot in life to be thankful for! God calls for us to count our blessings, so lets try and find some good to be thankful for. How can we do this? Well, our cohosts found a few great ways to get started in your journey of cultivating a gratitude practice!

Here are a few examples of how to practice gratitude!

KEEP A GRATITUDE JOURNAL.

Studies show that keeping a gratitude journal can have positive psychological and physiological effects. There are a variety of ways to build this practice, including:

  • Try the “three good things” exercise where you keep a daily record of three good things for which you are grateful.
  • Start a “G.L.A.D.” practice. G.L.A.D. is an acronym for Gratitude, Learned, Accomplished, Delight. It’s about finding joy and balance by paying attention to certain aspects of daily life that frequently go unnoticed.

WRITE THANK-YOU NOTES.

Make your gratitude practice social by writing and sending thank you letters to someone who has done something for you. (Note: emails and even texts count.) Studies show that this act can strengthen relationships, help people to appreciate what they’ve received in life, and feel like they’ve given something back to those who have helped them.

Click HERE for the full list from the John Hopkins University blog.

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Having a Bad Day? You can turn it around!

Do you ever have a “Bad Day Monday”? The start of the week can be rough, but don’t worry, The Morning Thing is here to help! This morning, we shared some simple things you can do to turn your bad day around. It is great advice from The Positivity Blog!

Click HERE to see the full article and all the insight to find a better day.

1. Breathe.

2. Do a power pose.

3. Work out.

4. Hug.

5. Pet an animal.

6. Find a new viewpoint.

Three of my most commonly used questions that help me with that are:

  • Will this matter 5 years from now?
  • Who cares?
  • What is one small action, one small and practical step I can take to start turning this day or situation around?

7. Go out into nature and enjoy it all.

8. Accept what is.

9. If you made a mistake then don’t let your inner critic take over.

10. Tell yourself: Just for today!

11. Get outside of your own head by adding positivity to someone else’s life.

You can for example:

  • Help someone out. With for instance moving houses, with planning for an upcoming job interview or by offering some advice that has helped you in a similar situation that your friend is in now.
  • Just listen. Sometimes people just want someone to truly listen for a little while as they work out their own situation and possible solutions.
  • Be kind. Give a genuine compliment for something that means a lot to the other person or something she does that is often taken for granted.

12. Take 5-15 minutes to read some motivational quotes.

13. Journal about your day.

14. Talk it over with someone to find that new perspective.

15. Take a laugh break for 10-15 minutes.

16. Find something to look forward to.

17. Take a shower.

18. Clean up.

19. Tap into gratitude.

So ask yourself these 3 questions:

  • What are 3 things I can be thankful for in my life today?
  • Who are 3 people I can be thankful to have in my life and why?
  • What are 3 things I can be thankful for about myself?

20. Look back and celebrate how far you’ve come.

21. Remember: sometimes a bad day will just be a bad day.

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The Knox County Suicide Awareness Run and Walk is this Saturday

Kathy Wantland, Bereavement Coordinator for Hospice of Knox County was a guest on The Morning Thing today.
She shared the details of this year’s Suicide Awareness 5K/10K Run and Walk.
She also shared resources for suicide awareness and prevention in Knox County.
Kathy also shared a personal story of why she wants to get connected with community members impacted by suicide.
You can access the full conversation below.

The theme for this year’s walk is “Inspire Hope”!
Click HERE to register.

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