MV Salvation Army captain Christine Moretz receives Zelkowitz Award

Food For The Hungry has named Capt. Christine Moretz, commanding officer of The Salvation Army Mount Vernon Corps, as the 2025 recipient of the Zelkowitz Memorial Award for Community Service. Sponsored by Mount Vernon Nazarene University, the award honors a Knox County resident whose leadership and compassion reflect a deep commitment to serving others.

Presented annually during the Food For The Hungry Live Broadcast, the award commemorates Stephen Zelkowitz, a longtime community leader whose vision and service helped expand FFTH’s reach throughout Knox County.

Moretz has become a trusted and familiar presence in Mount Vernon, a community she affectionately calls her “second home.” Raised as a Salvation Army officer’s child and shaped by years of service across the country, she was commissioned as an ordained Salvation Army officer in 2013 and later appointed to lead the Mount Vernon Corps.

Under her leadership, The Salvation Army has expanded critical services addressing food insecurity, housing and utility assistance, childcare access, supervised visitations, and support for families in crisis. Community leaders consistently point to her collaborative spirit, steady leadership, and genuine care for every individual she serves.

Moretz was surprised with the award during the 2025 FFTH Live Broadcast, as messages and photos highlighted her years of faithful, often behind-the-scenes service. Her children shared heartfelt tributes, expressing pride in her resilience, work ethic, and love for Mount Vernon and Knox County.

As presenters of the award, MVNU President Carson Castleman and FFTH President Austin Swallow praised Captain Moretz’s faith-filled leadership.

“On behalf of MVNU, we are excited to give this award to you,” Castleman said. “As I watched your testimonial video, I saw all throughout it the tapestry of Jesus Christ. Thank you for your service to this community — and thank you for your service to the kingdom.”

Swallow echoed that sentiment, adding, “Christine is a true friend. She does live what she preaches, and I appreciate that the most about her.”

Accepting the honor, Moretz responded with humility and gratitude, giving credit to God and to the community she serves. She emphasized that service is both a calling and a shared effort, expressing thanks for the opportunity to love others through action.

Learn more about Food For The Hungry at FoodForTheHungryCares.org. The 2025 FFTH Live Broadcast, including the award presentation, is available on demand at MVNU.tv.