A classroom food collection organized by Psi Iota Xi opens Monday, Nov. 16, 2026, and closes Friday, Nov. 20, with proceeds going to the 45th annual Food For The Hungry Drive, Knox Pages reported.
Students in Mount Vernon's elementary schools and middle school will take part, along with their peers at Centerburg, Danville, East Knox, Fredericktown and St. Vincent elementary schools. Each classroom receives a collection box.
According to the organizers, pantries most need canned fruit and vegetables, soup (pop-top cans or packages are preferred), canned meals such as ravioli or Spaghetti-Os, baked beans and canned meat. Non-food items are accepted, but cash is favored: the group says a dollar contributed carries $4.56 of purchasing power through the Mid-Ohio Collective. Checks are to be written to Food For The Hungry.
The classroom in each school with the most items per student receives a pizza party sponsored by Psi Iota Xi. Honorees from each school will be recognized during the Food For The Hungry broadcast on Friday, Dec. 11, at the Knox County Memorial Building, with the live stream on WNZR.tv and coverage on 100.9 FM and 93.7 HD2-WMVO.
More information, donation links and volunteer forms are available on the Food For The Hungry website, and the organization asks anyone hosting a collection to submit its community event form.