Food for the Hungry is the annual collection of food and funds to benefit Interchurch Social Services and The Salvation Army of Knox County. The calendar is full of events and special collections planned to support the annual drive.

Join WNZR is support of this annual effort.

Click HERE to hear a conversation about this year’s campaign. Marcy Rinehart of The Morning Thing talked with Lisa Mazzari, Food For The Hungry Coordinator; Kailea Sparks, Assistant Coordinator and Joy Harris, Executive Director of Interchurch Social Services.

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

Find an event and get plugged in. Volunteer. Give. Participate. BE part of the solution in the fight against hunger in our community.

Food For The Hungry – working together to care for our neighbors!

ALL Knox County elementary kids are collecting donations for Food For The Hungry this week. It is an exciting time!
The Morning Thing talked about this collection today with Dr. Sonya Smith of Delta Kappa Gamma and Cindi Doolittle of Psi Iota Xi.
Parents, Grandparents and Caregivers – this is the week to bring in donations. We hope that you will take a minute to listen to the conversation and take a few minutes to talk to your kids about how important their gift is to this campaign.

Click HERE to hear the conversation.

Click HERE to find out more about the 2015 Food For The Hungry Drive.

The Morning Thing is getting ready for Food For the Hungry 2015!
Tonight, Kenyon is hosting the 8th annual Empty Bowls Soup Supper and Art Auction at Kenyon’s Peirce Hall from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
We had the opportunity to talk with Lacey Filkins. Click HERE to hear that conversation.
For more information about how you can get involved visit their website.

Plus its Homecoming 2015 at MVNU so we shared our favorite memories from past MVNU Homecomings! 

Click HERE to hear Aubrey Bailey’s favorite MVNU homecoming memory!

Click HERE to hear Wesley Boston’s favorite MVNU homecoming memory!

Click HERE to hear Jenna Potts’ favorite MVNU homecoming memory!

Click HERE to hear Marcy Rinehart’s favorite homecoming memory as a student at MVNC.

Click HERE to hear Marcy Rinehart’s favorite MVNU homecoming memory as a staff member at MVNU!

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is preparing for Homecoming Weekend!
The Morning Thing talked with MVNU Alumni Director, Travis Keller about all of the activities and events.
Click HERE to hear about all the exciting events happening this weekend at 800 Martinsburg Road.
Click HERE to find out more about Homecoming 2015.
MVNU – Shine Forth!

Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

There is a rich history of Veterans Day. Click HERE to read about how this special day became a national holiday.

There are many activities happening in our community for Veterans Day.

East Knox Schools will host the annual Veteran’s breakfast at the high school, Wednesday, 8 a.m. Schoolwide assembly honoring veterans at 9:15 a.m.

Danville Schools will hold its elementary school’s Veteran’s Day program in the gym at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. High school students will go to Memorial Park at 10:30 a.m.

Mount Vernon‘s annual Veterans Day ceremony will be held on the Public Square at 11 a.m. Wednesday. The Mount Vernon High School band will perform.

Fredericktown Schools have canceled their Veterans Day Assembly due to a 2 hour delay this morning. Veterans are still invited to come to the school at 11am for coffee and donuts.

Mount Vernon City Schools will present a special concert tonight.
The Mount Vernon Symphonic Orchestra cordially invites you to its 2nd Annual Veterans Day Concert. The concert will be held on Veteran’s Day, Nov 11, at 7pm in the Mount Vernon High School Theater.

Students will perform a variety of patriotic music in honor of our local veterans. The event is free and open to the public.

The Knox County Historical society to honor veterans tonight.

Each year in November, the Knox County Historical Society pays tribute to the service of Knox County’s veterans, past and present.

This month’s program, on Wednesday, at 7:30 p.m., will begin with the presentation of the colors by members of the Knox County Career Center Jr. Air Force ROTC, who each year participate in numerous Veterans Day activities throughout Central Ohio. The group, under the direction of Lt. Col. Chris Salvucci, has also been present to greet returning area veterans from Honor Flight trips to the various military memorials in Washington, D.C.

Kevin Henthorn, director of the Knox County Veterans Service Office, will discuss the programs and services offered to Knox County veterans. Historical Society Trustee and World War II veteran Mel Helmich will speak about his military service.

The program, held at the Historical Society Museum, 875 Harcourt Road, is free and open to the public, and all persons interested in area history are invited to attend. For more information, call the museum at 740-393-5247.

The presentation previously scheduled by World War II D-Day veteran Donald Jakeway has been postponed and will be rescheduled for early in 2016.

We shared a Thanksgiving Countdown Planner from the Food Network today on The Morning Thing.

Click HERE to get some tips on what you should do when.

We also talked with Steve Feazel about his documentary, “Shadows on the Heartland”.
Click HERE to hear the conversation about this inside look of sexual trafficking and the impact in Ohio.

Today, The Morning Thing shared a conversation with Gigi and Brandon Gonzalez-Cottrell about the 34th annual Food For The Hungry Drive. 
Click HERE to hear that conversation.

You can find out more about Food For The Hungry at their website. http://www.foodforthehungrycares.org
See a calendar of events, see a list of collection points and find out more about this amazing community outreach program. Stay tuned this week as The Morning Thing continues the conversation about this annual campaign and how you can help.

We also kicked off WNZR’s annual Totally Tasty Tom Turkey Hunt today!

Celebrate the holidays with WNZR!
The WNZR Totally Tasty Tom Turkey Hunt is BACK!

WNZR has teamed up with Smithhisler Meats of Mount Vernon to give away 5 turkeys!
5 Winners will receive a 14-16 pound turkey from Smithhislers on Columbus Road in Mount Vernon.

Be listening throughout the day as Tom gobbles his way through the WNZR studios.  When you hear that gobble gobble, Call (740) 392-9090.  Caller #5 gets registered to win!

Winners will be announced at 7:30am on Friday, November 20^th!  Winners receive their turkey just in time for the cooking and the Thanksgiving table!!

Get ready for “The WNZR Totally Tasty Tom Turkey Hunt”.  Happy Thanksgiving from the station that is thankful for YOU – 90.9FM WNZR.

WNZR allows one registration per person per day.  Anyone winning within the last 30 days IS eligible for this contest.

The Morning Thing celebrated National Nacho Day today by sharing our 5 Favorite Nacho toppings.

Click HERE to hear Aubrey Bailey’s favorite nacho toppings.

Click HERE to hear Jenna Pott’s favorite nacho toppings.

Click HERE to hear Wesley Boston’s favorite nacho toppings.

Click HERE to hear Marcy Rinehart’s favorite nacho toppings.

Ben Haws, WNZR Director of Listener Engagement, also shares his favorite way to eat nachos.
When we were younger (and still to this day if I’m honest), one of my favorite snacks to share with my sister was a dish we like to simply call “Chips ‘n Cheese”. And when I say “share”, I actually mean that she would take a plate loaded with tortilla chips, cover them in freshly shredded cheese, put them in the microwave until melted to perfection, and then I would steal from her plate until she convinced me to make a plate of my own. Why am I so hungry all of the sudden…?

We also shared our November Presidential Update with MVNU President, Dr. Henry Spaulding. Click HERE to hear the conversation.

The Morning Thing connects you to many local events that are great for families.
We also highlight the many talented young people that live in our community.

We were honored to visit with the cast of “The Secret Garden, Spring Version” this week.

Here’s some information about the show:
Mount Vernon Middle School and High School will present the musical, “The Secret Garden, Spring Version”. The musical will be held on Friday, November 6^th at 7:30pm and Saturday, November 7^th at 2:30pm and 7:30pm in the Mount Vernon High School Theater.

Tickets are $8 for reserved seating. Tickets can be purchased at the door at each performance or by calling Kristen Campbell at (740) 504-1492. Tickets will also be sold in the theater lobby on Monday, November 2 through Thursday, November 5 from 6:30pm- 8:30pm.

This enchanting classic of children’s literature is re-imagined in brilliant musical style by composer Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman. Orphaned in India, 11 year-old Mary Lennox returns to Yorkshire to live with her embittered, reclusive uncle Archibald and his invalid son Colin. The estate’s many wonders include a magic garden which beckons the children with haunting melodies and the spirits from Mary’s past who guide her through her new life, dramatizing The Secret Garden’s compelling tale of forgiveness and renewal. The production promises to be a treasure for children and adults!

For more information, contact Director, Mrs. Marty Bell at 740-393-5900, ext. 5909.

Click HERE to hear a conversation with Megan Campbell who plays Mary Lennox and Michaela Hauke who plays Martha.

Click HERE to hear a conversation with Rachel Rinehart who plays Lily Craven and Mark Fongheiser who plays Archibald Craven.

Click HERE to hear a conversation with Marty Bell, Director of The Secret Garden.