Food For The Hungry (FFTH) has awarded 12 Summer Grants totaling $30,500 to support food assistance programs across Knox County.
The Summer Grant program, launched in 2020 during the COVID‑19 pandemic, continues to address child hunger by funding initiatives that provide nutritious meals during school breaks. This year’s grants focus on programs that serve children throughout the summer months, while also supporting pantries and hot meal services countywide. Funding comes from donations made to the annual FFTH Drive, with additional resources pulled from the surplus of the 2025 Drive, which raised $394,301.89—over $50,000 above its goal.
The Summer Grant program was created to safeguard children from food insecurity during times when school is not in session. Many students in Knox County depend on the free breakfasts and lunches provided during the academic year, but weekends and summer vacation leave significant gaps in their access to nutrition. FFTH accomplishes this by distributing funds to local organizations that provide food pantries, hot meals, and creative initiatives like activity bags and kid‑friendly dinners. By carefully reviewing applications, the FFTH Grants Committee ensures resources are directed to programs that meet the most pressing needs.
Two grants of $5,000 were awarded to First Church of the Nazarene for its East Knox Food Bags project and Father’s Table Pantry and Hot Meal program. These initiatives provide bi‑weekly food boxes to families and sustain weekly hot meals serving dozens of households. Several organizations received $2,500 grants, including Central Christian Church, Church on the Rise, Covenant Church, Martinsburg Activity Center, and The Escape Zone. Their programs range from monthly food pantries to daily summer lunches and Friday night meals for children.
Grants of $2,000 went to Knox County Transit, which will purchase carts to help food‑insecure riders transport groceries, Mount Vernon Seventh‑Day Adventist Hill Church for weekly hot meals, and The Salvation Army for snacks and meals in childcare and summer day camps. Smaller grants of $1,000 were awarded to Afterglow Christian Mission House for daily meals and CHOMP Ministries for holiday fruit baskets.
FFTH emphasizes that these grants are made possible by the generosity of Knox County residents who contribute to the annual Drive.
To learn more, visit www.FoodForTheHungryCares.org or follow FFTH on Facebook (@FoodForTheHungryKnoxCounty) and Instagram (@FFTHCares).
