Food For The Hungry was featured on 10TV! Thank you to 10TV for giving focus to food insecurity in Knox County and to the Knox County Junior Fair Board for organizing the Stock the Trailer food collection on our behalf. 2026 is the third year the Junior Fair Board has held Stock the Trailer. In 2025, they collected 1,300 pounds of food that went directly back into the community! All of the food collected will be delivered to the Salvation Army Food Pantry in Mount Vernon. Food For The Hungry - Working Together To Care For Our Neighbors. https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/knox-county-rallies-annual-stock-the-trailer-food-drive-as-food-insecurity-grows/530-9ab2507c-bcb8-43bb-ba70-8cada1270b5e

Check out this incredible Knox County Food Initiative! First Naz's Foster Ministry House has a mission to meet the physical needs of the community while fostering relationships that share the love of Jesus. Through hot meals, grocery distribution, and a partnership with East Knox Schools, they serve as a vital safety net for Knox County. Foster Ministry is a 2025 FFTH Grant Recipient and we are proud to partner with Foster’s efforts to reduce hunger in Knox County. In August 2025, the Foster Ministry House moved its monthly food distribution from the third Saturday to the fourth Saturday of each month from 9 AM to 11 AM. This decision, spearheaded by Director Renee Reiss, comes after a careful analysis of community needs. "We noticed a decline in pantry attendance over the last year and realized we were overlapping with two other local pantries," Reiss explained. "By moving to the fourth Saturday, we fill a critical gap in the month when families often find their cupboards bare and their resources stretched thin." An individual needs to bring identification and proof of address to receive food at the monthly distribution. The ministry’s distribution system utilizes a "hybrid" model designed to provide both efficiency and dignity. Rather than receiving a pre-packed box, guests register and "order" items from specific food groupings based on their family size. The Process: Volunteers act as "runners" to a packing station, while a dedicated team delivers the groceries directly to the guest’s vehicle. The "Extra" Touch: While the program follows the standard "three meals for three days" guideline, Reiss makes it a point to include "extras" whenever possible—a small gift of grace she hopes to maintain despite tightening supplies. The mission faces headwinds as federal cuts and policy changes at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective have impacted availability. In 2025, Reiss noted a significant reduction in free offerings and a noticeable dip in protein and meat options. Despite these hurdles, the ministry thrives through a robust network of support. Financial backing comes from First Church of the Nazarene and the Food For The Hungry (FFTH) grants, which account for nearly 20% of the budget. First Church of the Nazarene received $6,000 from the FFTH 2025-2026 Winter Grant cycle - dedicated to the hot meal program and food pantry. "The support from FFTH helps us make our dreams a reality," says Reiss. "We are always thinking about what’s next and how we can reach the next person in need." Success at the Foster Ministry House is a team effort. Each week, a dedicated crew of 4–5 volunteers manages the Wednesday Hot Meal program (available for both dine-in and carry-out from 5 PM - 6 PM), while 10–12 volunteers power the monthly distribution. This volunteer force is a diverse blend of church members, high school students, and students from Mount Vernon Nazarene University and Kenyon College. The Hot Meal serves 60 to 80 people each week. Beyond the church walls, the ministry maintains an ongoing partnership with the East Knox School District, ensuring students have access to nutrition on weekends throughout the school year, and during holiday and summer breaks. This partnership and ministry received a $3,000 FFTH 2025-2026 Winter Grant. Foster Ministry House is located at 723 Coshocton Ave, Mt Vernon, OH 43050. Hot Meal - Wednesdays for dine-in or take-out from 5 PM - 6 PM. Food Pantry - Fourth Saturday of each month from 9 AM to 11 AM. Website: https://www.firstnaz.net/foster-ministry-center Email: fatherstable807@gmail.com (Video is from the 2025 FFTH Live Broadcast) Food For The Hungry - Working Together To Care For Our Neighbors. www.FoodForTheHungryCares.org

Knox County High Schools support Food For The Hungry. The collection efforts will support Knox County food pantries, hot meals, and other organizations throughout 2026 and into 2027. Food For The Hungry - Working Together To Care For Our Neighbors. www.FoodForTheHungryCares.org

Recap the Food For The Hungry Annual Snowflake Gala from 2025. Despite record snowfall for the weekend, hundreds of people made it to the event on December 13, 2025, and had a glamorous evening of supporting the mission of Food For The Hungry; funding food pantries, hot meals, and local organizations for 2026-2027. The 2025 Snowflake Gala raised $89,616.57!

The students from Knox County Career Center in Ohio pull together each year to raise a substantial amount of money and collect hundreds of food items for local pantries and food projects in need. Food For The Hungry of Knox County honors their efforts and interviews them on the 2025 Live Broadcast.

Food For The Hungry awards Captain Christine Moretz as the recipient of the esteemed Zelkowitz Memorial Award for Community Service. The award, sponsored by Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU), recognizes an individual whose tireless dedication and community leadership embody a spirit of service and compassion. The Zelkowitz Memorial Award is presented annually during the Food For The Hungry Broadcast to a citizen of Knox County who exemplifies a spirit of community service, particularly in relation to Food For The Hungry. The award is given in memory of Stephen Zelkowitz, former president and general manager of Mount Vernon Broadcasting and president of Mount Vernon Cablevision. As a community leader in various charitable events, Stephen helped grow the Food For The Hungry initiative in Knox County, supporting Charlie Kilkenny’s vision. Captain Moretz serves as the Commanding Officer of The Salvation Army Mount Vernon Corps, where her leadership, compassion, and unwavering dedication have become an anchor of hope for the community she affectionately calls her "second home." Food For The Hungry partners with Mount Vernon Nazarene University to present the Zelkowitz Memorial Award each year.

Kids from Elementary Schools throughout Knox County, Ohio, share how they collected money to support the Food For The Hungry 2025 Drive during the Live Broadcast on December 12, 2025. During the 2025 Psi Iota Xi Sorority's Elementary School Drive, kids across Knox County collected a total of $18,054.23 and 6,633 food items in 2025! Their collections are used by local food pantries to help their classmates and neighbors in need of food. These kids remind us that ANYONE can make a difference. Food For The Hungry - Working Together To Care For Our Neighbors. www.FoodForTheHungryCares.org

December 12, 2025, was Food For The Hungry LIVE and Drive Day! Drive Day raised $260,465 and 12.5 truckloads of food for Knox County, Ohio, food initiatives. It was an amazing day of celebrating the generous people of Knox County - donors, volunteers, and grant recipients. Check out this amazing recap video made by FFTH volunteer Ben Slater. Our 2025 Drive Goal is $340,000! Visit www.FoodForTheHungryCares.org to learn more and donate!

Public Service Announcement! Food For The Hungry of Knox County needs your help to reach its 2025 Goal to collect $340,000 and as much non-perishable food as possible. Learn about our history and what is happening in our community through this video and join in our mission to reduce hunger in Knox County, Ohio! Give now at www.FoodForTheHungryCares.org Food For The Hungry - Working Together To Care For Our Neighbors!