Secrest Auditorium Food Drive

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The Muskingum County Hunger Network is asking for donations to stock their food pantries as government food assistance programs are limited by the shutdown.

Zanesville Fire Department Assistant Chief Doug Hobson shared some of the efforts the city is taking to help support local food pantries and hot meal programs.

“So today we’re having a food drive, tomorrow we’ll be having the same thing, Thursday the 13th, here at Secrest Auditorium,” Hobson said. “You’ll pull right up to the Fourth Street door, honk your horn and we’ll be watching for you. A nonperishable food item. And again we’re encouraging all of Muskingum County, City of Zanesville residents and a big shout out to businesses, please stop by. Make that nonperishable food donation, we also take check or cash just like this morning. We had a $250 donation already.”

Hobson said nonperishable foods such as canned vegetables, breakfast cereals, and pastas like macaroni and cheese are what’s needed the most. Plus they also have a Venmo account ready to accept donations that can be linked to via the Muskingum County Hunger Network social media postings. 

“We have learned from our 12 hunger network pantries and our four hot-meal programs that they are up 40 to 80 percent in serving,” Hobson said. “I just talked to the young lady from North Terrace. They normally serve about  30, they served 96 last week. So just in that one day, up that much. So the need is greatly, you know it’s out here unfortunately in our community. And it’s our job as our community to take care of our community.”

Hunger is nothing new to Muskingum County but numbers that it affects are on the rise and the city encourages you to share your holiday generosity anonymously by donating to the Hunger Network between 10 and 4, on Thursday the 13th, at the Secrest Auditorium, located on the corner of Fourth and Shinnick Streets in Zanesville.