45 Years of Service
In 1982, Charlie Kilkenny of WMVO utilized his radio platform and rallied the community to collect food and money for local factory workers who were laid off shortly before Christmas. Growing out of that grassroots campaign, FFTH is now a nonprofit organization focused on providing food and financial support to organizations working to reduce hunger in Knox County. To accomplish this mission, there is an annual drive comprising multiple community-led events, culminating in the FFTH Live Broadcast and Drive Day.
While some events have come and gone over the years, the heart of community service and a desire to help neighbors in need have remained strong for 45 years!
1980s
1982
December 1982, Charlie and Carol Kilkeeny organize a food and money drive to help their neighbors when Lamb Glass Company closed shortly before Christmas. The drive raises $1,600 dollars and 7 truckloads worth of food.
1983
WMVO, of which Charlie was a longtime showrunner for, and Cablevision make the food drive their signature charity event of the year. Ron Staats joins the team. Both Interchurch and Salvation Army become beneficiaries of the drive.
1984
Food For The Hungry (FFTH) gets it name in Firestone at the Mount Vernon Shopping Plaza.
1982 news clipping where drive is unofficially referred to as "Food for the needy".
1990s
1992
Marcy Rinehart, who joined FFTH two years prior and WMVO one year prior, starts coordinating the annual broadcast.
1994
The first basketball tournament, FFTH Holiday Invitational, is hosted at Mount Vernon Nazarene College.
The first Zelkowitz Memorial Award is awarded to Helen Zelkowitz.
1995
The first Stanley Can Award to High Schools is given to Centerburg High School.
1996
Sally Nelson, a member of Nelson and Nelson, forms a board of directors and brings on new community partnerships and donors.
Marcy joins WNZR, the radio station at MVNC, and students begin helping with the production of the broadcast.
1998
Broadcast is hosted from Odd Lots as the Ohio State Highway Patrol District 6 in Columbus provides a scale and personnel to weigh 30 tons of food. Over 2,000 volunteers and businesses worked on the campaign this year.
1999
Broadcast is hosted from City Hall for the first time along with the first live auction.
First Knox and Community Trust (Community Foundation) get involved with FFTH.
KCCC students fix and auction a car for FFTH.
The first “Parade of Gingerbread Homes” event is hosted.
1996 news clipping showcasing Centerburg High School students and the first Stanley Can Award for collecting 1,320 items.
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A participant of "The Parade of the Gingerbread Houses" and his gingerbread house.
2000s
2001
FFTH hits a new record and raises over $100,000.
The first Gingerbread Gala is hosted at Kenyon.
FFTH website launches to better communicate with the community.
2002
Micah Rubenstien is named the first Executive Director.
Clear Channel’s 93Q and Kiss FM broadcast live on December 14 with continuous reports and help with overall drive coordination.
Host Eric Matthews goes live on top of Domino's Pizza from 6:00 AM on Thursday, Dec. 12, through the meeting of the goal that Saturday afternoon.
2001 news clipping discussing FFTH reaching a net record of $102,965 from its drive that year.
2003
Community partners compete in Shopping Cart Derby, collecting food and money from different corners of Mount Vernon with the goal of making it to town square for awards.
2004
Ron Staats hosts his final broadcast.
Dave Bevington of WMVO begins hosting with Marcy the following year.
2006
MVNU Video/Film Guild students Ben Boquist, Aaron Dursch, Bill Allred, and Amanda Paniagua write and film “You are Food for the Hungry” documentary.
2007
Adam Taylor joins Marcy and Dave Bevington to host the Broadcast. Guest hosts include Jenney and Jason Murray.
Kenyon College students host the “Empty Bowls” Soup Dinner and Art Auction, where art students sell their pottery bowls and serve soup to raise money for Food For The Hungry.
2009
Sandy Rhoton becomes second Executive Director
The first Gingerbread Gala is hosted in Gund Ballroom at Kenyon College in 2001.
Mount Vernon News arriving at town square as they compete in 2004 Shopping Cart Derby.
2010s
2010
The first Turkey Trot is hosted by WeRunMV.
WNZR fully takes over broadcast production.
2011
The first Snowflake Gala is held at Kenyon College.
2012
FFTH leadership holds a planning retreat. FFTH bylaws and slogan, “Working Together To Care For Our Neighbors,” were created.
2013
FFTH hits a new record and raises over $200,000. 64 truckloads of food are collected.
KCCC basket auction is started by John Feltman.
FFTH Winter Grant program begins.
2014
Lisa Mazzari becomes third Executive Director.
2017
Drive Day is moved to Memorial Theater.
2018
The first Fire and Ice event is hosted by Knox County Parks District at Honey Run Waterfall.
Marcy sits with Emily Boggs and Sandy Rhoton during 2013 basket auction.
Participates of 2018 Turkey Trot held at MVNU leap into action at the beginning of the race.
2020s
2020
FFTH hits a new record of $424,029.71.
Summer Grant program launches to help with kids out of school during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayors and Commissioners declare FFTH Day for the first time. Service Club Challenge is introduced.
2022
Oliva Stern joins the FFTH team as Digital Content and Marketing Director.
2024
The budget is restructured to accommodate for Summer Grants initially funded only by excess goal funds.
Kathy Brechler becomes fourth Executive Director.
2025
FFTH helps organize two Pop-Up Food Pantries with Interchurch Social Services and Knox County Foundation in response to government shutdowns and cuts to SNAP.
2026
Tanner Cooper-Risser becomes fifth Director as role is refocused to Annual Drive and Community Relations Director.
FFTH celebrates 45 years of service to Knox County, Ohio!
Preschoolers at Ester Jetter participate in 2021 drive season.
Recipients line up around the building for the Pop-Up Food Pantry in November, 2025.