Central Christian Church in Mount Vernon, Ohio, is addressing the rising need for food assistance with the help of Food For The Hungry. On a recent Saturday morning, Austin Swallow, President of Food For The Hungry, arrived at the church to find numerous cars lined up for food distribution. Volunteers, led by Tammy Kehl, were already busy preparing to serve.
The church received a $2,500 grant from Food For The Hungry to support their summer "children’s bag" program. This initiative provides bags filled with child-friendly and educational items for children in kindergarten through fourth grade. Each month from June through August, 60–65 bags are prepared. However, these children are just a fraction of the nearly 600 individuals who seek assistance from the church monthly.
Most of those served are over 60 years old, and almost all come from Knox County. Kehl expressed her dedication to the project by stating, "I was here once, and that changed my outlook. We do this because we want to help those who can’t make it on their own."
Kehl noted concerns about reduced food availability due to decreased governmental support affecting their primary source, the Mid-Ohio Food Collective (MOFC). She observed that MOFC's shelves were not as stocked as usual and anticipated less product availability in the future. Despite these challenges, Kehl remains committed to continuing their efforts.
To manage potential shortages, Kehl plans to seek more assistance from the congregation and rely on local grocery connections if they offer better prices than MOFC.
Food For The Hungry plays a crucial role in supporting Central Christian Church's initiatives. Swallow emphasized their commitment: "At Food For The Hungry, we remain unwavering in our commitment to support local food initiatives and our community." He acknowledged the growing demand for assistance and stressed finding innovative solutions to maximize donations' impact.
For more information or to donate, visit www.FoodForTheHungryCares.org.
