Category: Knox County’s Food For The Hungry

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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Interchurch Social Services Danville Serving Need in Eastern Knox County

Cindy Martin, Branch Manager with the Danville Branch of Interchurch Social Services talks with WNZR’s Eric Brown about her role in the organization and their ministry.

Click HERE to hear the full interview!

She has served the ministry since 1998, volunteered for 9 years then became manager in 2019.  She talks about the changes in the economy has made getting items much harder, stretching dollars.

She shares several numbers including in 2024, they served 17,514 meals equating to 1,946 people, to date in 2025, they have served 15, 867 meals equating to 1,763 people this year. She adds what the biggest needs are in Danville including:  loaves of bread, boxed meals, canned foods and other non-perishable foods. She adds that any monetary donations are used to getting frozen meat to distribute.

Cindy says the among the Food For The Hungry’s Top 10 ten list she points to condiments among the most desired items, because they are rarely donated.

She talks about how Interchurch can take $1 and turn it into $4.56 worth of food and how Food For The Hungry donations help in more ways than just providing food.

Cindy talks about the Danville’s branch silent Wreath and Home Décor Auction going on through December 12th at the Danville Branch of Park National Bank. There are five different items to bid on including a wreath featuring ice skates that are over 50 years old. All items may be viewed in-person during regular business hours. All proceeds benefit Food For The Hungry and Interchurch Social Services Danville Branch. 

She says that the best way to pray for their staff is to give them the ability to do what they do.

Finally, she explains what the slogan, “Food For The Hungry, Working Together to Care For Our Neighbors,” means to her which includes that people should share and share alike.

Click HERE to find out more about Interchurch Social Services!

Click HERE to find out more about Food For The Hungry!

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Brandon Schroepfer tells us about Fire and Ice!

Brandon Schroepfer is the Natural Resource Manager for the Knox County Park District.

He shared details about Fire and Ice which is happening this Saturday at Millwood Church of Christ and Honey Run Park.

This event helps support Food For The Hungry and Brandon explained how you can help!

For more details about the event click HERE!

For more details about the Knox County Park District click HERE!

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Austin Swallow talked with us about the second pop up food distribution that happened on Saturday!

Food For The Hungry Board President Austin Swallow shared details about the second pop up food distribution that took place on Saturday 11/22!

He explained what each family received at the distribution. He also shared that around 150 families were blessed!

Austin also gave thanks to all involved with this pop up food distribution and talked a little about the upcoming 44th annual Food For The Hungry Drive.

To learn more about Food For The Hungry click HERE!

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We talked with Jim Riggle from the Knox County Career Center!

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!

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Byron Saunders Foundation Helps Give Thanksgiving Meals to Families in Need

Ginny Williams talked with WNZR’s Eric Brown about the Byron Saunders Foundation and some of it’s history.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation!

It started in 2003 with only 20 meals and its grown so much. It started with the idea of just helping families have meals and it’s grown to be such a large part of Thanksgiving. It just started with people checking on neighbors and now it gone beyond that to a widespread to reach families and have a meal on Thanksgiving.

Ginny talks about how families can get a meal for Thanksgiving. All you have to do is either call or text to get a full boxed meal and certificate to get meats for Thanksgiving by calling 740-324-9503 to help get signed up.

The last pickup for the year is this Saturday, November 22nd at their new facility at Habitat for Humanity in Mount Vernon.

She also talks about ways you can help support their work through donations and volunteering. The Knox County community has been very supportive, and they’ve been so blessed with smaller groups who’ve done food drives with a small list of things they need for their meal boxes. They sell tickets at the Knox County Fair and she explains how the community helps with that as well as other fundraisers run to help them as well as the Food for the hungry who helps support them as well as so many others.

She also thanks Habitat for Humanity and their help by giving them a permanent location and they’re so thankful for having a location and not having to go from place to place to try to keep working all year. She’s so thankful for the community support to keep this foundation working.

She talks about the goals for the community to end the season, they need volunteers for the ticket booth at the Knox County fairgrounds. If you see something for their foundation, put some nonperishable food in there like cans, or call their number.

They have food that needs to be delivered for them if you have time to help them and helping people who can’t go to get their turkey.

Click HERE to find out more about the Byron Saunders Foundation.

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The Knox Community Jazz Orchestra is benefitting FFTH for the 4th year!

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!

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Psi Iota Xi Launches Elementary School Campaign for FFTH!

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!

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