Carolyn Fergus, Executive Director of Knox County Interchurch Social Services stopped by WNZR to talk about how Food For The Hungry impacts her county-wide ministry. Click HERE to hear the full conversation.
She shared some eye-opening stats. She shared how the changes in the economy have impacted her clients. Carolyn says the number of families who used their service in 2023 was just over 5,300. She says in 2024 they have serves over 7,500 families. 2024 stats of residents served: (these numbers are rounded)
Almost 3,000 seniors (60 & older)
over 9,000 adults and 6,100 children used their services totaling over 18,000 Knox County residents. NOTE: According to the US Census Bureau, Knox County has just over 63,000 residents. Interchurch provided over 164,000 meals in 2024
Interchurch provided over 164,000 meals in 2024.
Carolyn shared that the biggest needs for the organization and a Top 10 list of needs for the food pantries. Carolyn talked about two big goals for 2025: to open the Centerburg location and create a school pantry program in every school in Knox County.
David Heithaus, Director of the Knox County Park District visited with The Morning Thing to talk about the exciting event Fire and Ice. Click HERE to hear the full conversation. This event is a benefit for the Food For The Hungry Drive. You and your family can enjoy over 600 luminarias at Honey Run Waterfall this Saturday, 12/14 from 5:30pm – 8:30pm. Please park at the Millwood Church of Christ, 10900 Millersburg Road in Howard. They will shuttle you to the waterfall area. The Knox County Park District is asking that you bring a donation to Food For The Hungry. Both non-perishable food items and money will be accepted. Don’t miss this amazing holiday event that helps families right here in Knox County!
MVNU’s President, Dr. Carson Castleman, talked with WNZR for our monthly MVNU Update. Click HERE to hear the full conversation.
Dr. Castleman shared his thoughts about fall semester at MVNU and plans for 2025. We covered many topics including:
Enrollment numbers for Spring 2025
Top priorities for 2025
Fundraising campaign updates for the Chapel Project and the “On Deck Campaign” for MVNU Baseball
How giving to MVNU changes lives
Exciting events coming to MVNU in 2025
Dr. Carson Castleman highlights some exciting events coming up on his calendar and the MVNU calendar, including several trips for the Castleman family.
He shares special Christmas messages for MVNU students, faculty and staff.
He also shares how we can pray for MVNU and his family in the month of December.
Click HERE to stay up to date with news from MVNU.
The Morning Thing featured several special guests this week as we prepare to go to the 24th Annual Fredericktown Christmas Walk. Click HERE to hear the conversations. We talked with committee members about this fun event for families. They shared schedule updates, event highlights, how long they have been involved and what they are looking forward to experience at this year’s event. The Walk benefits the Salvation Army and Interchurch Social Services in Fredericktown, along with the Fredericktown Community Relief Fund.
Enjoy the conversation with: Robin McClay – entertainment and the scrumptious live auction Jamie Sanders – NEW Christmas Tree Trimming Contest Carolyn Fergus – ornaments and inflatables Joely Lepley – Committee Chair, schedule highlights Cecelia McClelland – arts and craft vendor at the Presbyterian Church Ellen Hoam – Santa’s visit, good places to park and how to get involved with the event
For full details Click HERE for their Facebook page.
Today on The Morning Thing, we talked about Giving Tuesday. Our special guests were Katie Ellis, Executive Director for United Way of Knox County; Joe Springer, Executive Director for the Winter Sanctuary and Carolyn Fergus, Executive Director for Knox County Interchurch Social Services. Click HERE to hear the full conversation.
Katie shared how important this day is to the 2024 United Way of Knox County Campaign. The focus for this year’s Giving Tuesday is Housing Stability. She talks about why this topic is important to our community and the United Way as they fund various agencies and organizations in Knox County. She tells us that housing stability is one of the greatest barriers for families.
Carolyn shares with us how Interchurch Social Services is working to keep families in their homes. She shares some stats from this year on how they are providing rental assistance. Through October 2024, they have spent $54,593 for housing requests in Knox County. Emergency Financial Aid has helped over 600 families and over 1,600 individuals in the county.
Joe shares about their Advocacy Program and how it is helping families and community residents in crisis. The program runs year-round for anyone at risk of losing their home.
Joe and Carolyn both share how the funding from the United Way is helping their organizations. They each share how gifts given today on Giving Tuesday will make a difference for their ministries. Joe, Carolyn and Katie share goals for their organizations for 2025 related to the focus on housing stability.
Jim Riggle, Principal of Academics, Attendance and Discipline at the Knox County Career Center stopped by WNZR to talk about how the Knox County Career Center is collecting donations for Food For The Hungry. Click HERE to hear the full conversation and descriptions of each basket! He shared some amazing results from his time in the dunk tank at the KCCC Open House. He also talked about several competitions between student labs including the popular Coin Wars. The Annual Online Auction of Themed Baskets is LIVE! Jim shared the details of 20 different items that are up for bid, including 15 themed baskets. You can bid on a Family Fun Basket, The Blonde Robin Basket, Date Night Baskets, Car Care Baskets, the popular Foodies Basket, Girls Day Out, Guys Day Out and many more! There are also individual items up for bid including a Yamaha Electric Bicycle and two packages of 20 pounds of Pork! These baskets have a combined value of over $8,000 in donations! Go to this site and place your bid: 32auctions.com/KCCCFFTH2024 The bidding closes on Friday, 12/13 at 3pm.
Kathy Brechler, Food For The Hungry Executive Director and Carol Grubaugh, Executive Director for the Knox County Chamber of Commerce stopped by WNZR to talk about this year’s Service Club Challenge. Click HERE to hear the conversation or click the link below. Service Clubs throughout Knox County are hosting events and collections to benefit the annual drive. The deadline to submit donations is December 9th.
Kathy also talks about how the Mount Vernon annual Holiday Parade and Winter in Downtown MV event will be a collection point. Look for the FFTH Shopping Carts in the parade! Kathy shares a Top 10 list of foods that our local pantries have requested. She also shares a list of collection points that will be open on Friday, 12/13. Would you like to volunteer? Volunteers are needed at the collection points. Please email Kathy director@foodforthehungrycares.org
A discussion about current construction and maintenance projects for the city. He shares the progress of these projects:
Northend culverts on Old Mansfield Rd, storm water problems as well.
East Vine St sidewalk project
Catherine St. project
New Court House Design
Mayor Starr gives updates from City Departments:
Engineering – entered into a contract with the county for the Knox Cattle Company dam
Streets and Parks – preparing for winter, leaf pickup, snowplow names and installation of new LED bulbs for streetlights
Public Buildings and Lands – construction update, water hydrants, and replacing sidewalks on the public square
Revamping of the Auditor’s office
Sidewalks on public square – 1260 square feet have been replaced so that it is safer for people to walk
Public Utilities – update on the Water and Wastewater Plant (concerning Ohio EPA-mandated phosphorus reduction in the outflow).
Parks Department – park bathrooms are being *winterized*. Getting downtown ready for CHRISTMAS!! Update on the Splash Pad project
Mayor Starr shares his thoughts about the election results over the two referendums that failed. He shares the plan for those areas. We also talk about voter turnout.
Mayor Starr talks about the city’s electric aggregation program. There was some recent concern after residents received a letter from AEP. Energy Harbor sold to Dynegy (new company).
Mayor Starr shares updates from Mount Vernon City Council:
Wastewater Treatment Plant update
Latest news on the new police station and municipal courthouse. The City Council has authorized the design phase. Legislation is approved that is allowing requests for qualifications. Courthouse RFQ’s have come in.
Reserve balance account. Rainy day fund.
Camping in parks for educational community events.
Columbus Delano fields. Pollinator gardens.
Mayor Starr shares an update from the Mount Vernon Police Department.
New tasers
Welcome to new Officer Brookhunter.
Mayor Starr shares an update from the Mount Vernon Fire Department.
Update on Training
Grant from Homeland Security for hazmat equipment
Jeff Gottke, Area Development Director went on a trip with Knox Pages to Sherwood, Oregon. Their goal was to gather information about how an Intel plant impacted an area that is similar to Mount Vernon. The project is called “Intel – Beyond the Chip”. Mayor Starr shares some important findings that Jeff brought back to him and his administration. A full report is coming next week. Growth can happen to us or with us.
Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr shares a list of events on the December Calendar including the new budgeting process for 2025.
Mayor Starr shares his immediate goals for December and how we can pray for him and his team.
Lacey Filkins, Executive Director Experience Mount Vernon stopped by WNZR to give us a highlight of Winter in Downtown Mount Vernon. Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the link below.
Lacey talked about this year’s theme – A Vintage Holiday Celebration. She highlighted the exciting schedule: Saturday 11/30 – Shop Small Saturday Sunday 12/1: 3:45pm – Annual Holiday Parade 4:15pm – Festive Family Fun 5:00pm – Lighting of the Public Square 5:30pm – 7:00pm – Pictures with Santa at the Mount Vernon Grand Hotel
Lacey shared about the parade route and the best place to be seated. There are 60 different floats signed up for this year! There are 10 different awards including Best Overall, Judges Choice and Best Youth (sponsored by WNZR/MVNU). The parade is a Food For The Hungry collection point. FFTH will push carts in the parade so that people can donate while they walk through downtown. If there is rain, the parade is rescheduled for Sunday, December 8th at the same time and location.
Lacey talks about the Festive Family Fun. After the parade the public square will be filled with the Dogwood Blossoms singing carols. There will be ornament craft tables, letters to Santa, three different food trucks and a holiday market.
The lighting of the public square will take place when it gets dark. Santa and Mayor Star will be there. Santa is in the lower lobby of the Grand Hotel at 5:30-7:00pm. Pictures with Santa are free!
The event starts at 6:00pm on December 14th. They have four different categories. Best Storefront, Best Classic White Light Display, Best Vintage Inspired and Best Light Up the City Display.
The public is invited to vote as well as the assigned judges. The 14th, 15th and 16th are the voting dates.
The winners will be announced on the Experience Mount Vernon Facebook page on the 17th by 5pm. Winners will also be emailed directly.
Lacey wants to thank Park National Bank, Burrata Woodfired, Knox Community Hospital, Dumbaugh Insurance, Shelter Insurance, Ariel Corporation for their sponsorship. She would also like to thank the City Streets Department and MVPD for coordinating the parade. Lacey would like to thank their volunteers and for Santa.
Lacey would like to thank True Cut Landscaping and for volunteers for hanging the lights and ornaments in the square.
Lacey talks about future events that Experience Mount Vernon is planning for 2025. They are already planning their First Fridays. July First Friday will take place on a Thursday in 2025 to plan around July 4th weekend.
You can signup to the Experience Mount Vernon newsletter to keep up to date on all Experience Mount Vernon events. They also post updates on their website and Facebook page. https://www.experiencemv.org/
Ann Trudel shared some exciting news with WNZR. The online auction is back for the 2024 Fredericktown Christmas Walk. Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the link below.
She shared the details about this year’s auction, including how to donate items, place your bids and how to follow the auction items. The bidding starts on 11/29 and ends on 12/4. See what’s up for bid on the Walk’s Facebook page. Search for Fredericktown Annual Christmas Walk and Auction. You can also reach Ann through her business line 740-694-1935.
Rise and Shine 