Food For The Hungry announces winter grant recipients

During Food For The Hungry, a record of 24 Winter Grants totaling $65,000 were presented to county projects involving food assistance. The recipients will use their grants for food initiatives that range from food pantries to weekend meal assistance for students.

A special grant of $10,000 went to the Salvation Army of Mount Vernon. This grant will help them purchase a freezer and refrigerator for a new Choice Pantry. The new units will be installed as part of the Salvation Army’s renovation. This will allow families to “shop” for food that fits the needs of their family rather than receive pre-selected food.

A grant of $6,000 went to First Church of the Nazarene for their Father’s Table Pantry and Hot Meal. Throughout the winter months they serve families with children through both their hot meal and pantry programs. In the past six months, they have served 81 households where children reside. They also have a number of families that attend their hot meal program on Wednesday night. This grant money will be used to purchase food needed to maintain these programs.

Grants of $3,500 went to: Central Christian Church Food Pantry; Church on the Rise Food Pantry; and Covenant Church Food Pantry.

Grants of $3,000 went to: First Church of the Nazarene East Knox Food Bags; Lifepoint Church of Mount Vernon Backpacks of Hope; Knox County Head Start - Head Start School Break Food Boxes; and ACTS Food Pantry - Balanced Meals for Healthy Families.

Grants of $2,500 went to: CHOMP Ministries Free Pop-Up Fresh Produce Market 2026; The Escape Zone - EZ Diner; Gay Street United Methodist - Friday Night Community Hot Meals; Knox County Career Center Food Pantry; and First Presbyterian Church Hot Meal.

Grants of $1,500 went to: Jacqueline McCalla-Cordle Children’s Fund – 2026 Spring Break Distribution; Knox County Task Force For Older Adults – Holiday Meals for Homebound Seniors; Alcohol and Drug Freedom Center of Knox County – Healthy Snack Program; Winter Sanctuary Emergency Homeless Shelter – Food for the Unhoused; Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church Sunday Sanctuary - Sunday Sanctuary; Fredericktown Senior Activity Center; Byron Saunders Foundation - Thanksgiving Meal Boxes; and TouchPointe Community Resources - Healing our Community Project.

Grants of $1,000 went to: Mount Vernon Association of Police Chaplains - First Response Family Support Initiative; and Afterglow Christian Mission House.