MOUNT VERNON — Knox County local media outlets and community partners will join together on Friday, Dec. 8, for the 42nd annual Food For The Hungry (FFTH) Drive Day. The 2023 Drive Goal of $260,000 and as much food collected as possible will benefit The Salvation Army, Interchurch Social Services, and dozens of other food assistance initiatives in Knox County.
Food For The Hungry Live begins on Friday, Dec. 8 at 9:00 a.m. and continues until 4:00 p.m. FFTH Live’s audio will be available on 100.9 FM and 93.7 FM HD2 WMVO, WMVO.com, and the WMVO App. Video will be available at www.mvnu.tv and on the FFTH Facebook page. Updates will be given throughout the day on 90.9 FM WNZR, 93.7 FM The Super Q WQIO, and FFTH social media. FFTH Live will air from the Memorial Theater in Knox Memorial on East High Street in Mount Vernon.
Non-perishable and monetary donations can be made at the FFTH collection points throughout Knox County on Drive Day from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Mount Vernon collection points include Walmart, Aldi, Lowes, Baker’s IGA, Lannings, The Glenn A. Gallagher Centre, and The Knox Memorial (open until 4:00 p.m.). The Centerburg and Danville collection points are their local Hometown Markets. Other collection points include Bellstores in Fredericktown, Red Rover Marathon in Apple Valley, and The Village Market in Gambier.
Financial donations can be made at the FFTH website or mailed to WRP CPA’s, 1684 Venture Dr. Ste B, Mt Vernon, OH 43050 (Designated Food For The Hungry). There is also a special opportunity for Mount Vernon residents to leave FFTH donations in/by their mailbox on Dec. 8 and Mount Vernon Postal Workers will properly distribute the donations. Donations do not require postage! Envelopes must be designated for Food For The Hungry.
The top 10 food items most needed by food pantries in Knox County include:
Soup (Pop-top cans or packages)
Jelly
Canned Meals (ravioli, Spaghettios, etc.)
Breakfast foods (cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix)
Canned Fruit
Canned Vegetables
Pasta/Egg noodles
Side Dishes (Boxed or Packaged)
Peanut Butter
Pasta Sauce
This year’s broadcast, as always, is a celebration of giving and highlights many community members and organizations presenting their contributions to Food For The Hungry. Other presentations include the top collectors in both the elementary and high school collections, the winners of the Knox County Career Center Online Auction of Themed Christmas baskets, and reports from numerous events that have collected food and funds for the 2023 drive. The 21 different organizations that received a total of $40,000 from FFTH Winter Grants will be featured throughout the day.
FFTH will announce a grand total the week of Dec. 11 after other FFTH Drive events finish their collections, like Kenyon College’s Snowflake Gala and the MVNU Men’s Basketball game, both scheduled for the evening of Dec. 8. The 2023 FFTH Drive continues through Dec. 31, so other events and collections may still occur and contribute to the final total, which will be announced in early January 2024.
Follow FFTH on Facebook (@FoodForTheHungryKnoxCounty) and Instagram (@FFTHCares) to stay current on all things FFTH. Get involved by attending events, donating, volunteering, or even hosting your own event for FFTH! If you are hosting an event, make sure to fill out the Community Event Form on the FFTH website.
To learn more about FFTH, donate, or find photos, videos, and more, visit www.FoodForTheHungryCares.org. To volunteer with FFTH, call or text Lisa Mazarri at 740-398-0569. Make sure to tune in to 2023’s Food For The Hungry Live. This is a Knox County tradition you won’t want to miss!
Food For The Hungry—Working together to care for our neighbors.
