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.
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.
The Morning Thing shared a conversation about an exciting collection to benefit families in Knox County. WNZR’s Alyssa Sidle talked with Lisa Lloyd, Program Director for the Knox County Foundation and Kiwanis Member about the club’s annual Coats for Kids Collection. You can access the full conversation below.
The Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon is excited to partner again with Gault’s Plaza Cleaners for the drive. During the month of October, gently used coats will be collected at various locations throughout Knox County. The coats will be cleaned by Gault’s Plaza Cleaners then taken to Interchurch Social Services and the Salvation Army to be distributed to children in need before winter arrives. There are 29 different partner locations in Knox County accepting donations through the 31st.
Interchurch and the Salvation Army are predicting that the need this year will be even greater than previous years. Salvation Army’s Captain Christine Moretz said “We have seen an increase to our food pantry and hot meal needs. It would not be surprising to see the increased need for coats as well this coming winter season.”
Carolyn Fergus, Executive Director of Interchurch Social Services agreed, adding “Our numbers have doubled since the beginning of this year. There are so many families needing help making ends meet. A warm coat at no cost will go a long way to meet their needs.”
Kiwanis is dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.
Since 1987 there have been 19,226 coats donated, cleaned, and distributed through Coats for Kids. For more information, call Lisa Lloyd at 740-392-3270, ext. 2.
Drop off Locations:
CENTERBURG Centerburg Elementary: 207 South Preston Street Centerburg Middle/High School: 3782 Columbus Road Park National Bank: 35 West Main Street
DANVILLE Danville Elementary/Middle School: 205 Rambo Street DanvilleHigh School: 405 South Market Street Park National Bank: 4 South Market Street
FREDERICKTOWN Fredericktown Elementary/Middle/High School: 111 Stadium Drive Park National Bank: 137 North Main Street
GAMBIER Gambier Child Care Center (Head Start): 119 Meadow Lane The Peoples Bank: 103 East Wiggin Street Wiggin Street Elementary: 207 East Wiggin Street
HOWARD East Knox Jr./Sr. High School: 23227 Coshocton Road
MOUNT VERNON CES Credit Union: 1215 Yauger Road & 400 West Chestnut Street Chamber of Commerce: 501 South Main Street Gault’s Plaza Cleaners: Kroger Plaza, 855 Coshocton Road Knox County Career Center: 306 Martinsburg Road Knox County Head Start (Hew Hope Early Education): 11700 Upper Gilchrist Road Knox County Service Center: 117 East High Street Knox Technical Center: 308 Martinsburg Road Mount Vernon City Schools – Columbia Elementary: 150 Columbus Road – Dan Emmett Elementary: 108 Mansfield Road – East Elementary: 714 East Vine Street – Mount Vernon High School: 300 Martinsburg Road – Mount Vernon Middle School: 298 Martinsburg Road – Pleasant Street Elementary: 305 East Pleasant Street – Twin Oak Elementary: 8888 Martinsburg Road Park National Bank: 1 South Main & 810 Coshocton Avenue Salvation Army of Mount Vernon: 206 East Ohio Avenue The Peoples Bank: 11423 Upper Gilchrist Road United Way of Knox County: 305 East High Street
Carolyn announced the exciting plans to build a new branch of Interchurch in Centerburg. She shared the vision for the new location, her goals, and the process of deciding to build a new building. She also thanked the team that will work together on this project. Carolyn also shared how the public can support this building project and how we can pray for the Interchurch team and ministry.
Today on the Morning Thing we talked with Joy Harris of Interchurch Social Services about the back to school clothing vouchers. To hear how to get one of these vouchers and how this will impact our community, click HERE. As always, thanks for listening!
Rise and Shine 