MOUNT VERNON — Local media outlets will join together Friday for the 40th annual Food For The Hungry (FFTH) drive to benefit The Salvation Army, Interchurch Social Services and 19 other food and poverty assistance initiatives in Knox County.
A live broadcast of all the day’s events will begin this Friday, Dec. 10 at 9 a.m., and continue until 5 p.m. on 100.9 FM and 13WMVO Radio with live video streaming at MVNU.TV and the FFTH Facebook page. Radio stations providing updates throughout the day from the drive include WNZR 90.9 FM and 93.7 The Super Q. The FFTH Facebook page will also be updated all day with new totals and other exciting news. The broadcast will originate from The Memorial Theatre at The Knox Memorial on East High Street in Mount Vernon.
Local media personalities Marcy Rinehart of WNZR, plus Tyler Mathias and Curtis Newland of WMVO/93.7 The Super Q, will serve as hosts for the event. The Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) Department of Communication, BAS Broadcasting, Mount Vernon Arts Consortium, Wayne Bower, J.R. Bonham, and Spectrum are donating broadcast production and technical support.
The Knox County Commissioners and local mayors have issued resolutions and proclamations calling Friday ‘Food For The Hungry Day.’
This year’s broadcast, as always, will highlight several community members and organizations presenting their contributions to the drive.
Special entertainment will be featured throughout the broadcast including MVNU students Zoe Bricker, Genesis Mena-Cruz, Kasey Middaugh, Ben Slater and Mallory Thomas. Lindsay and Michael Andrews and their 6 children will also share several special songs.
FFTH will present over $38,000 in small grant awards to local food initiatives throughout the day. Kenyon College will share results of the Snowflake Gala, Psi Iota Xi will recognize top collectors from Knox County elementary and middle schools, and local high school student collection winners will be recognized. MVNU will also recognize the recipient of the Stephen Zelkowitz Award, which honors service to the FFTH drive..
Collection sites will be available at the following locations and times:
Mount Vernon
Baker’s IGA, 524 S. Main St., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lanning’s Foods, 1033 Newark Rd., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kroger, 855 Coshocton Ave., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lowes, 1010 Coshocton Ave., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Aldi, 1545 Coshocton Ave., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Walmart Supercenter, 1575 Coshocton Ave., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Knox Memorial, 112 E. High St., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Danville
Hometown Market, 14800 Millersburg Rd., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Howard/Apple Valley
Red Rover Marathon, 21971 Coshocton Ave., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fredericktown
BellStores, 300 W Sandusky St., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Gambier
The Village Market, 111 Chase Ave., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Centerburg
Hometown Market, 3895 Columbus Rd., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Centerburg Interchurch Office, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The goal for the 2021 drive is $275,000 and as much non-perishable food items as can be collected. For more information about this year’s drive or to donate online, visit www.FoodForTheHungryCares.org. Food For The Hungry — celebrating 40 years of working together to care for our neighbors.
