MOUNT VERNON — Hunger is on the rise, both in the United States and here in Knox County. To symbolize the need, Food For The Hungry’s annual entry in the Mount Vernon Christmas Parade is composed of empty shopping carts pushed along the route by representatives of the Partner Board: Time Warner Cable, BAS Broadcasting (News Talk Sports Radio 13WMVO and Super Q 93.7 WQIO), Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Nelson and Nelson CPAs, WNZR Radio 90.9 FM, the Mount Vernon News, Psi Iota Xi, Knox County Career Center, Kenyon College, I-Conn Video Production, and First Knox National Bank.
This year’s Christmas parade will be Sunday, Dec. 1, and entries will be passing through downtown Mount Vernon beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Guests of the parade can show a visible sign of your support to alleviate hunger right here in our community by bringing canned or boxed food items with you to the parade, and then placing these items in the shopping carts as they pass by. All food collected at the parade will go to the food pantries at Interchurch and The Salvation Army.
These pantries have released a list of the top ten food items needed: canned meat (chicken, tuna), beef stew/hearty soups, canned pasta, boxed dinners (Hamburger Helper), peanut butter, spaghetti/spaghetti sauce, cereal (hot and cold), baked beans/kidney/chili beans, noodles/instant rice/potatoes, canned fruits and vegetables.
The pantries also need the following items called “taxables” that cannot be purchased with food stamps: toilet paper, dish soap, laundry soap, hand soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, tissues and paper towels.
For more information about hunger in Knox County and the Food For The Hungry drive, visit FoodForTheHungryCares.org.
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