MOUNT VERNON — It was one of those hot July Saturday mornings when Austin Swallow, Board President of Food For The Hungry (FFTH), arrived at Church on the Rise to find a hub of community activity.
Tanner Cooper-Risser, FFTH’s Annual Drive and Community Relations Director, had arrived earlier to tour the facility alongside host Michele Coscia, who serves both as an FFTH Board member and a Church on the Rise volunteer.
As Swallow greeted volunteers and reconnected with familiar faces, a persistent concern echoed throughout the building: the condenser on the pantry’s main freezer had stopped working earlier in the week.
Volunteers managed to restart the unit — sparing the stored food for the time being — and neighboring Lanning’s Foods stepped in to offer backup cold storage if a transfer became necessary. However, the temporary fix left the pantry’s inventory on fragile ground.
Knowing a full replacement was essential, Pastor Richard Hite ordered a new condenser, trusting that the community would find a way to fund it.
For two decades, Church on the Rise has operated its monthly food distribution to serve local families in need. Pastor Hite cobbled together a down payment for the condenser through individual pledges and donations, aiming to pay off the balance day by day.
Recognizing the urgent need, Swallow and Cooper-Risser encouraged Pastor Hite to apply for assistance through the FFTH Emergency Fund — an account maintained within the Knox County Foundation thanks to the ongoing generosity of local donors.
The prospect of support quickly spread among the volunteers – “Food For The Hungry might be able to help us.”
By the end of the week, the FFTH Grants Committee approved the request, and Swallow presented a check to Church on the Rise covering the full cost of the replacement condenser.
“Thank you for your kind support,” said Jeanne Hite, wife of Pastor Hite. “We know that as long as we are obedient to our mission to feed the hungry and reach the lost and hurting for Jesus Christ, the Lord will help us.
“Thank you again for the help Food For The Hungry has given us to continue serving those in need in our community.”
During the July distribution, Church on the Rise served 140 local families — work that can now continue uninterrupted.
“The best part of this role is being able to help people out,” noted one FFTH Board member during the special grant approval process.
Church on the Rise’s food pantry is open to anyone in need and occurs on the third Saturday of each month. The church is located at 7512 Newark Road., Mount Vernon, Ohio.
Distribution Procedure
- Ticket Pickup: Attendees must arrive at the church on the morning of distribution between 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. to receive a ticket.
- Return Time: Each ticket will specify a time to return to the church to sign in and collect food items. To help the distribution process run smoothly, attendees are asked to return within 10 to 15 minutes before or after their designated ticket time.
- Traffic Management: This ticketing system is utilized to ensure safety, as the church is located along a state highway.
Identification & Documentation
- General Requirement: Identification is not required for returning visitors, who only need to provide their name.
- First-Time Visitors: First-time visitors will be asked to present a form of ID so they can be registered in the system.
- Picking Up for Others: Anyone collecting food on behalf of someone who cannot attend must bring a written proxy, following guidelines established by the Mid-Ohio Food Collective.
For questions, individuals can contact Church on the Rise at 740-397-9022 or leave a message on their Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/ChurchOnTheRiseMtVernon/
Church on the Rise received a $2,500 2026 summer grant from FFTH and is a regular grant recipient. Church on the Rise is one of the 12 FFTH grants awarded this summer, totaling $30,500.
For 45 years, FFTH has existed to raise and distribute food and monetary contributions to support needy individuals and families in Knox County; working with key partner agencies to address food insecurity, and to disrupt the poverty cycle.
FFTH extends its sincere gratitude to the donors and community partners whose continued trust and support make grants and emergency interventions like this possible.
Visit www.FoodForTheHungryCares.org to learn more about FFTH and follow FFTH on Facebook (@FoodForTheHungryKnoxCounty) and Instagram (@FFTHCares) to stay current on all things FFTH.
Knox Community Hospital proudly supports the vibrant pulse of our community by sponsoring the Life & Culture section on Knox Pages, celebrating the stories and experiences that make our region unique.