Food For The Hungry Visits Long-Standing Adventist Hot Meal Program

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Olivia Greenich Stern
Food For The Hungry Digital Content & Marketing Director
(330) 260-4059
contact@foodforthehungrycares.org
 
July 28, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HEADLINE: Food For The Hungry Visits Long-Standing Adventist Hot Meal Program
MOUNT VERNON, OH — Leadership from Food For The Hungry (FFTH) recently visited the Adventist Hot Meal Program to observe operations, sample the food, and learn more about the rich history of Knox County’s original Saturday night hot meal service.
Tanner Cooper-Risser, FFTH Annual Drive and Community Relations Director, and Austin Swallow, FFTH Board President, toured the program, which recently received $2,000 in funding through the FFTH Spring and Summer grant process. Adventist Hot Meal is one of the 12 FFTH grants awarded this summer, totaling $30,500. 
Now operating out of the Adventist Elementary School on Sychar Road in Mount Vernon, the program originated in 2001 at the former City Church (now The Gathering Place on Edgewood Road). When Bob Hudson, former coordinator of the Hot Meal program at Interchurch Social Services, asked if the Adventist community would participate in the weekly meal schedule, they readily agreed—with one guiding condition: that the meals reflect their church’s tradition of serving nutritious vegetarian food.
About 15 years ago, as the two local Adventist congregations consolidated, program organizers partnered with the Adventist Elementary School Board to keep the outreach program alive in a new location. The school board embraced the initiative and continues to support it today.
While the school is located farther from downtown than the program's original site, it consistently serves 60 to 75 individuals each week. Transitioning primarily to a take-out format during the COVID-19 pandemic, the program has expanded its reach through delivery, made possible by a dedicated volunteer. Guests are also encouraged to gather, dine, and converse on-site.
"This program is so worth it, and it has really grown in the years since COVID," said Ruth and Gini, the sisters who co-direct the program. "We love seeing our 'regulars.' They know our monthly menu rotation by heart and definitely have their favorite dishes. We are deeply grateful to all the volunteers who give up their Saturday afternoons to prepare and serve food. This program has truly moved into a new generation."
The program’s resilience was on full display during the widespread power outages that struck Mount Vernon in Spring 2026. Despite the challenges, the team remained open both Saturdays, serving over 100 meals each week to residents in need.
"Those weeks were incredibly rewarding and truly validated the importance of what we do here," the directors added.
The Adventist Hot Meal is open to the public each Saturday. Anyone in need of a meal is welcome to arrive between 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM at the Mount Vernon Seventh-Day Adventist Elementary School, 221 Sychar Road, Mount Vernon, OH. Delivery within Mount Vernon can be requested by messaging the Mount Vernon Hill Seventh-Day Adventist Church Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MountVernonHill. Contact Jenn Thompson at 740-398-8186 if you have any questions. 
Food For The Hungry of Knox County exists 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.
Food For The Hungry remains proud to partner with and support the Adventist Hot Meal Program as part of its ongoing mission to care for Knox County neighbors.
Thank you to every individual in Knox County who continuously believes in the vision of Food For The Hungry and the desire to better your community. The generosity displayed each year makes grants like these 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. 
Food For The Hungry—Working Together To Care For Our Neighbors. 
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