MOUNT VERNON — Once again, the Knox County community showed its compassion and generosity.
As of 4 p.m. Friday, the 2023 Food for the Hungry drive brought in $185,547 and 11 truckloads of food.
That number will climb significantly after this weekend’s Kenyon Snowflake Gala and Mount Vernon Nazarene University basketball game.
“The generosity of giving is off the charts in this community.”
Joe Rinehart, mount Vernon nazarene university
Additionally, numbers for the Apple Valley Festival of Trees and other activities are yet to be counted.
Notable donations during the drive, held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 8, included more than $8,000 from the Fredericktown Christmas Walk, $10,289 from the Service Club Challenge, and $3,617 from MVNU.
The elementary schools shined, collecting $12,446.29 and 6,316 items. The food items filled more than five truckloads.
High schools collected $6,742. The Knox County Career Center topped the list, collecting 1,600 food items.
Lisa Mazzari, executive director of FFTH, said the best way to describe the community’s turnout was, “I am humbled.”
“We just had a great day,” FFTH board member Austin Swallow said of the 42nd annual drive. “We’re going to continue to build on that.”
Co-host Curtis Newland of WMVO/93.7 The Super Q pointed out the number of new people involved in this year’s drive, noting they bring “fresh perspectives.”
MVNU’s Joe Rinehart and co-host Marcy Rinehart of WNZR have been involved with FFTH for 32 years.
“We used to do cartwheels when we reached $50,000,” Joe said. “$100,000 was a huge milestone.
“The generosity of giving is off the charts in this community.”
J.R. Bonham received the Stephen Zelkowitz Memorial Award. Bonham is a member of MVNU’s technical crew.
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