Food For The Hungry awards $30,500 for summer food programs

MOUNT VERNON — Food For The Hungry (FFTH) is awarding 12 grants totaling $30,500 for summer food programs.

Hundreds of children throughout the county do not have access to food during the weekends and school breaks. During this award cycle, the FFTH Grants Committee focuses on programs that give children access to nutritious meals during summer break, while still supporting other pantries and hot meals throughout the county. 

FFTH has chosen the following 12 organizations as summer grant recipients. FFTH is honored to award a total of $30,500 in grant funds to these county projects involving food assistance. The recipients will use their grants for food initiatives that range from food pantries to special meals and activity bags for children.

$5,000 grants

— First Church of the Nazarene East Knox food bags

This grant will be used to purchase food for families from East Knox and Danville schools who rely on the breakfast and lunch programs during the school year and face gaps in summer nutrition. First Naz aims to provide 40-60 boxes bi-weekly to both schools. 

— First Church of the Nazarene Father’s Table Pantry and hot meal

This grant will purchase food to sustain the weekly hot meal and pantry programs (which serve 81+ households with children) throughout the summer months. Hot meals attendance has been 60-80 people each week.

$2,500 grants

— Central Christian Church food pantry

Central Christian operates a monthly food pantry through its Mount Vernon facility. Clients receive a box of canned goods, including soups, pasta, canned vegetables, and canned meat (when available). This grant will be used to purchase perishable items unavailable through Mid-Ohio Food Bank — bread, fresh fruit, dairy products (yogurt, string cheese), and beverages — for approximately 150 children per month during June, July, and August.

— Church on the Rise Food Pantry

Church on the Rise provides food and other products to people in need in the county by distributing food/other items every third Saturday of the month. This grant will help them purchase food throughout the summer to ensure school-age children without sufficient resources receive adequate meals. 

— Covenant Church food pantry

The Covenant Church food pantry is a group of volunteers (mostly members of the church) who work hard to obtain food and distribute it monthly to families in need. The money will be used to increase food supply for families with children who lose access to school-provided meals during summer break. 

— Martinsburg Activity Center

The activity center provides free lunches to children during the summer months. 60 people will receive lunch Monday through Friday. 

— The Escape Zone – EZ Diner

The Escape Zone provides meals to EZ children on Friday nights. The aim is to provide kid-friendly meals that include healthy items such as fresh fruits and vegetables and lean protein. The organization serves 70 people each Friday.

$2,000 grants

— Knox County Transit  

Knox County Transit will use its grant funds to purchase 28 wheeled carts to allow specifically identified food-insecure riders (including wheelchair users) to safely transport large grocery loads on public transit. 

— Mount Vernon Seventh-Day Adventist Hill Church – Knox Hot Meals  

The funds will supplement donations that cover food and paper supply costs for weekly hot meals that are open to all community members, including school-age children and families. 

— The Salvation Army

This grant will provide healthy snacks and meals (breakfast, AM snack, lunch, PM snack) for up to 112 children per day in childcare and summer day camp programs at the Salvation Army, Monday–Friday. 

$1,000 grants

— Afterglow Christian Mission House

This grant will cover food costs for daily meals (breakfast and dinner) open to all community members. Afterglow is anticipating increased attendance from school-age children during summer break. 

— CHOMP Ministries

Holiday fruit baskets will be distributed to 60+ low-income families in December, with a goal of expanding distribution by 10% over 2025 levels. FFTH awarded CHOMP $2,500 for the 2025 winter grant cycle to fund its summer produce market.

FFTH appreciates every individual in Knox County who believes in the vision of Food For The Hungry and the desire to better the community. The generosity displayed each year makes grants like these possible.

About the summer grant program

The FFTH summer grant program began in 2020, when the COVID-19 lockdown heightened awareness of child hunger throughout the United States. In Knox County, 30 to 40 percent of students rely on the free breakfasts and lunches they receive at school each day.

Funding for summer grants comes from the donations made by community members and organizations to the annual drive. Each year, FFTH sets aside a portion of the drive’s proceeds for the program.

As the FFTH Grants Committee members reviewed the needs of this year’s applicants, they decided to pull additional funds from the excess of 2025’s drive. The people of Knox County raised $394,301.89 for the 2025 drive, over $50,000 more than the goal. When contributions exceed the goal, it allows FFTH to give additional grant funds or special grants when needed.