Luisa Barone Gantt, Kenyon Communications and Project Management in the Advancement Division and Amy Quinlivan, Kenyon’s Coordinator of Administrative Services in the Office of the Provost came to WNZR to share about this year’s Snowflake Gala.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation.
The Event is Friday 12/13/24 at Kenyon’s Lowry Center.
Amy and Luisa share this year’s info – the theme is tied into Kenyon’s Bicentennial. There will be music from the Kenyon Jazztet, a photo booth and desserts from the Kenyon cookbook.
Amy and Luisa explain the Fund-A-Cause concept, the William Stroud Award for Community Service and the Founders Award.
Register at https://www.foodforthehungrycares.org/kenyon-gala-rsvp
The deadline to register is this Friday, 12/6/24.
The Knox County Career Center Online Auction to benefit Food For The Hungry is back for 2024
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.
Auctions, Cars, Motorcycles and free breakfast – it will be an exciting weekend at the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with Jacob Francis, board member for the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival.
Click HERE to hear their conversation.
Jacob shared the details of several exciting events on the schedule this weekend – the Wood Auction and the Car/Motorcycle Show.
He also talked about his exciting journey from volunteer to board member.
Jacob also invited the community to a special Sunday morning breakfast being served by Set Free Ministries.
The Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon is bringing PIES to the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival
The Morning Thing is shining the spotlight on the 2024 Music and Arts Festival this week.
On Wednesday, we talked with Wendi Fowler from the Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon. She shared the details about the Kiwanis Club Pie Auction which is a new event to the festival.
Click HERE to hear the conversation.
The pie auction will be held in conjunction with the wood auction on Saturday, August 10.
Bidding registration starts at 4:30pm.
The auction will from 5:30pm – 7pm on the Public Square.
There are 17 pies up for bid. Pies are being made by celebrities. Some of them include: Mayor Matt and Joanne Starr – All American Apple Pie, Bruce and Kathy White (from KCH) – Blueberry, Dr. Carson Castleman (MVNU President) – chocolate pie and Dr. Berry (COTC) – strawberry pie.
The Mount Vernon High School Key Club is also involved.
Wendi also shared how the money from the auction will be used. The Kiwanis Club supports youth and children in the community: Imagination Library, 4H, Babe Ruth baseball, and the Fredericktown Fire Academy.
If you would like to donate a pie, send an email to Wendi.fowler@parknationalbank.com
Wendi told us more about the Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon. Some of their programs include: boots and coats for kids, literacy projects and gathering 1,200 books for kids this summer!
They also go into the Mount Vernon classrooms to read books to students.
Literacy has been the focus for 2024.
Wendi invites residents to visit the next meeting for Kiwanis on Monday, 8/12 at Noon at the Gallagher Center at the Ohio Eastern Star. They meet on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month.
The festival runs on these dates:
Thursday 8/8 – 5pm – 10pm (They will have a soft opening on Thursday at lunch time so that people can access the food trucks on the public square)
Friday 8/9 – 11am – 10pm
Saturday 8/10 – 11am – 10pm
Sunday 8/11 – 11am – 3pm
Find out more at mvmaf.org
Psi Iota Xi invites you to a Downton Abbey Tea!
Psi Iota Xi is hosting a Downton Abbey Tea on Sunday, October 9 at 2pm at Veterans Hall at the Knox Memorial.
Sandra Fithian talked with WNZR about this exciting fundraising event.
Click HERE to hear the conversation and all the details of this unique event.
You can enjoy a traditional English tea, complete with finger sandwiches, scones and desserts, along with four Teas, served by footmen!
There will also be a Silent Auction to raise funds for the community outreach projects of Psi Iota Xi.
Tickets are limited to 80 guests.
Click HERE to purchase tickets.
This fundraiser benefits children that participate in the Arts in Knox County, MTVarts, Food For The Hungry, Knox County Symphony and the Imagination Library.
For more about Psi Iota Xi, check out their Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/PIXKnoxCoOhio

The Knox County Career Center Basket Auction is back!
WNZR talked with Jim Riggle from the Knox County Career Center about their 2021 Basket Auction to benefit Food For The Hungry.
There are 10 themed baskets up for bid, along with two other individual items – a gliding bench and 1 Ton of wood pellets.
You can bid now at https://www.32auctions.com/kcccffth2021
Bidding closes at 3pm on Friday, December 10th. The winning bidders will be announced at 3:30pm on the Annual Food For The Hungry Broadcast. Watch it at www.mvnu.tv
Click HERE to hear Jim’s conversation with WNZR’s Wesley Boston.
You can stay connected to the Food For The Hungry calendar in a few ways
Website – www.foodforthehungrycares.org
Facebook – Food For The Hungry of Knox County
Twitter and Instagram – FFTH Cares
#WNZR #TheMorningThing #FFTHCares #WorkingTogether #FFTHKnoxCounty
The Knox County Career Center supports Food For The Hungry!
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with Jim Riggle, Principal of Academics at the Knox County Career Center about their involvement with Food For The Hungry.
Click HERE to hear the conversation.
They talked about the student collection happening with the students.
They also talked about their annual online basket auction.
There are 9 baskets up for bid this year.
Jim shares all instructions on how to participate in the online auction.
Website: www.32auctions.com/kcccffth2020
Check out these amazing baskets and place your bid for a one-of-a-kind Christmas Gift!
OSU Basket valued at $590.
Michigan Basket valued at $590.
Car Care Basket valued at $900.
Family Fun Pack Basket valued at $1,000.
Fitness and Health Basket valued at $640.
Foodies Basket valued at $730.
All Herbal Life Basket valued at $270.
The Ultimate Date Night Basket valued at $1,050.
Dental Basket courtesy of Dr. Chris Martin of Contemporary Dental of Mount Vernon valued at $1,540!
Bidding opens at 12:01am on Tuesday, December 1.
Bidding closes at 3pm on Friday, December 11.
A special thanks goes out to Lauren Smith at the Knox County Career Center. She is instrumental in this entire auction process. She picks up the contents and makes these baskets look beautiful! Thank you Lauren!
Place your bid today!
Website: 32auctions.com/kcccffth2020
You can stay connected to the FFTH calendar in a few ways online:
Website – www.foodforthehungrycares.org
Facebook – Food For The Hungry of Knox County
Twitter and Instagram – FFTH Cares
Kenyon College hosts the 9th Annual Snowflake Gala to support Food For The Hungry. Get your tickets by Friday, 11/22!
This week, The Morning Thing is shining the spotlight on events to support Food For The Hungry. WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with Tom Stamp, Kenyon College Historian about the 9th annual Snowflake Gala Dinner and Auction.
Click HERE to hear their conversation.
Tickets are now available for the Ninth Annual Snowflake Gala,
benefiting Knox County Food for the Hungry
On Friday, December 6, 2019, Kenyon College will host the Ninth Annual Snowflake Gala in support of Knox County Food for the Hungry. The event will begin with a cocktail reception at 6:00 p.m. followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m. in the Kenyon Athletic Center’s Multi-Activity Court, which will be transformed for the occasion. The evening’s program will conclude with a “fund-a-cause” auction, providing guests with opportunities to support both the food-gathering and social-service activities offered by Food for the Hungry.
Denise and Mark Ramser, Knox County volunteer leaders and philanthropists, will be recognized at the gala with the William A. Stroud Jr. Award for Community Service, presented annually for outstanding support of local charitable causes. Chairpersons for this year’s event are longtime Food for the Hungry supporters Peggy and Dick Mavis.
The December 6 dinner, prepared by the skilled chefs of AVI Food Systems, will feature a buffet of gourmet Italian favorites, prepared with locally sourced ingredients, with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
Tickets for the 2019 Snowflake Gala are priced at $100 per person, which includes a contribution to Food for the Hungry (the exact amount of which will be provided after the event for tax purposes). Tickets may be reserved by calling Kenyon at 740-427-5111 or by visiting www.foodforthehungrycares.org, which offers online payment options. Tickets must be purchased no later than Friday, November 22, 2019.
Proceeds from this annual event benefit needy families and individuals right here in Knox County. If you or your company would like to sponsor a dinner table ($1,000 for eight people) or support the gala in some other way, please contact Kathryn Brechler Lake at 740-427-5111 or via email at lakek@kenyon.edu.
Chef Giulio is the Corporate Executive Chef that will be “auctioned off” during the gala for the private dinner! Here are some pics of Chef Giulio.
Chef Giulio Fattore, CEC
Chef Giulio Fattore is first generation as both parents immigrated from Italy. Giulio’s family is from the Abruzzo Province with his father is from Ripa Fagnano Alto and Mother from Pacentro, Italy. Giulio started cooking at the age of 14. Giulio is a graduate of Macomb College Culinary School and has competed professionally in 15 hot food and cold food cooking competitions earing medals in all. He has held positions at some of Detroit’s most prestigious Country Clubs and Hotels, Progressively working his way up from Cook to Executive Chef. Giulio is a Certified Executive Chef, designated by the American Culinary Federation. Giulio has been with AVI Foodsystems for 15 years, majority of the time was as Campus Executive Chef at Wayne State University. Currently, Giulio is a Corporate Research and Development Chef for AVI concentrating on Brand Development, Creating Recipes and Culinary Training.
Food For The Hungry celebrates 35 years of giving in Knox County!

2016 marks the 35th Anniversary of Food for the Hungry. This is the annual drive to collect 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.
Click HERE to read the history of how this drive started in 1982.

(Mount Vernon News article from 1982!)
Click HERE to read more about who we help. You can also find information at this link about our 2016 grant available to non-profit organizations with food initiatives. The deadline for the grant application is Monday, 11/28/16.
Click HERE to see the complete calendar of Food for the Hungry events in 2016.
WNZR is bringing you information about all events and collections connected to Food for the Hungry. The Morning Thing has been featuring conversations with committee members about these exciting events.
Click HERE to hear a conversation with Lisa Mazzari, Food For The Hungry Coordinator and Joy Harris, Executive Director of Interchurch Social Services of Knox County. Marcy Rinehart of The Morning Thing talks with the ladies about the power of this collection and the impact these donations make on the Knox County community.
Marcy also had a chance to talk with Lieutenants Gigi and Brandon Gonzalez-Cottrell of the Mount Vernon Salvation Army about how Food for the Hungry helps their ministry. Click HERE to hear this powerful conversation.
There are SO many organizations and individuals working to collect food and funds to support this outreach.
Psi Iota Xi and Delta Kappa Gamma sororities are working with the elementary students in our county. The incredible ladies from these two organizations have been working hard to encourage that ALL children in Knox County participate in Food for the Hungry.
Elementary schools across the county held collections the week of 11/14 – 11/18. So far, we are seeing GREAT results from those collections! Over 14 pallets of food were picked up from Mount Vernon elementary schools on Monday 11/21! That is amazing!
Click HERE to hear how Food for the Hungry representatives responded to the news of this amazing collection.


So how can YOU get involved?
#1 – Exercise!
Get up early and get some exercise on Thanksgiving morning. Come to the 6th annual Turkey Trot! Click HERE for more details from Scott Burgess from “We Run MV”.
Sign-in starts at 8:00AM on race day at the MVNU Chapel with the race to start at
9:00AM.

(2015 Turkey Trot at MVNU)
#2 – Shop in an auction!
The Knox County Career Center is hosting TWO auctions to benefit Food for the Hungry. The online auction features gift certificates from labs at the Career Center. Go to www.knoxcountycareercenter.yolasite.com to place your bid. There is a safe and easy form to fill out at the bottom of the website.
Bidding ends at 5pm on Friday, 12/9. The winning bidders will be announced at the Food For The Hungry broadcast at 12:30pm on Saturday, 12/10.
The Knox County Career Center is also hosting a LIVE Auction of amazing gift baskets! This will take place at around 12:45pm during the Food For The Hungry broadcast.
There are 6 baskets ranging in value from $356 to $1277!
Tune in to Time Warner Cable channel 9 or to WMVO 1300AM and 100.9FM on Saturday at 12:30pm and place your bid! You can also place an advanced bid by calling John Feltman at 740-507-5386.
SEE the baskets and complete contents at www.knoxcountycareercenterbaskets.yolasite.com
You can also SEE the baskets THIS SUNDAY (11/27) at the Mount Vernon Christmas Walk. Stop by Hunter Hall (where Happy Bean is located) and see the baskets on display in the conference room. You can also go ahead and place a silent bid for your favorite basket.
Click HERE to hear Marcy’s conversation with KCCC Student Services Principal, John Feltman about the Career Center’s involvement with Food for the Hungry. We are SO proud of these amazing young people.

(Vacation Basket valued at over $1,300!)
#3 – Get dressed up, go to dinner and support FFTH!
Kenyon College is hosting the 6th annual Snowflake Gala Dinner Auction to benefit Food for the Hungry on Friday, December 2nd in Gund Commons. Enjoy dinner prepared by the talented chefs of AVI Food Systems. This year’s dinner will feature a buffet of locally sourced foods, with both non-vegetarian (beef and pork) and vegetarian options. Reservations accepted NO LATER than THIS FRIDAY, November 25, 2016.
Click HERE to hear Marcy’s conversation with Matt Starr of I-Conn Video Production about the event details, this year’s honorees and how you can donate through the “Fund-a-Cause” live auction.
The evening begins with a reception at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m.. Individual tickets are priced at $100 per person. To reserve your place, call 740-427-5111. Online registration and payment options are available at www.foodforthehungrycares.org, click the Auctions Tab and then Kenyon Gala Dinner and Auction. Proceeds from this annual gala benefit needy families and individuals in our own county. If you or your company would like to sponsor a table ($1,000 for eight people) or support the gala in some other way, please contact Kathryn Brechler Lake at 740-427-5111.
(Kenyon Gala pictures from previous years)
Is that all that is happening? NO!
There are MANY MANY events happening to support Food for the Hungry.
Keep checking back to this blog and listening to The Morning Thing weekdays from
6-9am. We will keep you up to date on how you get you and your family plugged into an event.
Right now you can click HERE to see a full calendar of upcoming events.
Click HERE for information on how you can volunteer!
Join WNZR at the 35th annual Food for the Hungry drive, Saturday, December 10th. We will broadcast from City Hall from 9am to 5pm providing updates on the total and all activities. The Big Blue Crew wants YOUR help in supporting Interchurch Social Services and the Salvation Army.
For more information, log on to www.FoodForTheHungryCares.org.
Food For The Hungry – Working together to care for our neighbors.