MOUNT VERNON — Hundreds of individuals from all around Knox County — including residents of Apple Valley, Danville, Fredericktown, Howard and Mount Vernon — took advantage of the perishable food voucher give-away which took place Tuesday at The Salvation Army on East Ohio Avenue.
By 10 a.m., volunteers from The Salvation Army, Red Cross and Interchurch Social Services, as well as Knox County Job & Family Services staff, had distributed vouchers to benefit more than 150 households which had lost food during the extended power outage earlier this month.
The recipients were universally grateful, as most with whom the News spoke were working people who do not qualify for regular food assistance programs but were feeling the pinch due to the storm’s aftermath.
“I’m glad they’re doing this,” said Nicky Walton of Mount Vernon who had been without power for about 48 hours. This will help replace the food that I lost. I lost quite a bit because I’d just bought a food bundle.”
“I live paycheck to paycheck,” said another woman who preferred to speak anonymously. “I have some medical issues and all of my money is going to that right now. I don’t have the money to restock my fridge.”
Several other individuals, who declined to give their names, shared that sentiment.