MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon Nazarene University once again is serving as a community partner in the Food for the Hungry drive that benefits Knox County through Interchurch Social Services and The Salvation Army.
Between faculty and staff collections and residential student collections, the campus raised over $4,200 and five truckloads of food this year. This does not include totals from the Food for the Hungry basketball games, which took place Saturday.
During the basketball games, Kay Culbertson was announced as the recipient of the 2008 Stephen W. Zelkowitz Memorial Award. This award is given annually by MVNU in honor of the late Stephen W. Zelkowitz, who helped initiate and support the Food for the Hungry program in its early days. Zelkowitz was a community leader and served as president of Mount Vernon Cablevision.
Culbertson joined the production staff at the Mount Vernon News in 1973. She became production manager in 1989, and when her husband, Bill Culbertson, died in 1992, she transitioned to owner and publisher of the local publication. As publisher, Culbertson has developed special publications and newspaper programs with an emphasis on local history, personal stories, outlying Knox County areas, young readers, area businesses and more.
She works closely with community organizations and agencies, not only as a major media source, but as a devoted resident of Knox County. She helps with the Dan Emmett Music & Arts Festival, the Fredericktown Tomato Show, the Centerburg Oldtime Farming Festival, the Mount Vernon Christmas Parade, Food for the Hungry and many other projects.
“Kay’s willingness to join Food for the Hungry as a community partner in 1995 was critical in paving the way for the drive’s continued growth and success,” said MVNU’s Joe Rinehart, who has worked alongside Culbertson for nearly 10 years on the Partner Board. “The editorial, printing and design resources of the News and its staff have allowed Food for the Hungry to reach new heights in promotion and professionalism. Plus, Kay’s personal passion for helping her neighbors in need is a driving force among our partners.”
Zelkowitz’s mother, Helen, who passed away in 2006, provided for two $500 scholarships, awarded to one male and one female basketball player at MVNU. This year’s recipients are Jessica Lynn and Matt McKinley. Lynn, daughter of Raymond Lynn and Susan Johnson, is a junior criminal justice major from Cambridge. McKinley, a senior financial management major, is the son of Brian and Roberta McKinley from Columbus.
Another way MVNU joins in the fight against hunger is by partnering with Knox County high schools in the Stanley Can Competition. For the 10th year in a row, the Knox County Career Center earned the Stanley Can Award for bringing in the 41.7 items per student, with a total of over 6,700 food items and $4,900. Chris Estep was the top student giver from the career center.
Centerburg gave the career center a run for its money this year by donating an unprecedented 12,000 food items and $930, for an average of 27 items per student. Kevin Ball was the top student giver.
Other school totals include Fredericktown High School, 600 food items and $490 for a total of nine items per student; Mount Vernon High School, 853 food items and $2,100 for a total of eight items per student, Fred Parker top student giver; East Knox High School, 1,000 food items and $220 for a total of four items per student, Kathy Frere top student giver.
All proceeds from the Food for the Hungry drive will help stock food pantries at Interchurch and The Salvation Army in Knox County. This annual drive is truly a community partnership, and has continued to meet the need for food each year through the generosity of local businesses and individuals.
