New Interchurch food pantry leads latest round of community funding

The Knox County Foundation Board of Directors awarded $482,600 at its August board meeting.

The largest award is a $300,000 grant to Interchurch Social Services to support the development of a new food pantry at 156 Howard Street in Mount Vernon. The building, donated by the Knox County Land Bank, will be renovated to create additional storage for fresh and perishable foods and increase Interchurch’s ability to distribute food to other area pantries with limited storage capacity.

“We are excited to partner with Interchurch Social Services on this important project and support their vision for expanding food access in our community,” said Lisa Lloyd, Senior Program Director at Knox County Foundation. “This new facility will not only help serve more local families, but also strengthen the network of food pantries across Knox County.”

The Foundation also approved funding to support education and workforce development, health and human services, youth programs, community improvements and nonprofit operations throughout the county.

Other grants awarded through the July cycle include:

  • Habitat for Humanity — $35,000 to purchase a forklift to safely and efficiently move ReStore donations and construction materials used for new home builds and repairs.
  • Fredericktown Local Schools — $23,000 to help establish a three-booth welding lab as the district expands its Agriscience pathway to include welding instruction and industry-recognized certifications.
  • Knox Public Health — $20,000 to replace the emergency backup generator at its main facility, helping protect temperature-sensitive vaccines and maintain essential health services during power outages.
  • Freedom Center — $20,000 for sidewalk and drainage improvements at its South Main Street facility, including concrete replacement, drainage repairs and basement waterproofing.
  • YMCA of Mount Vernon — $15,000 to provide financial assistance for memberships and programs, including childcare, summer camp, swimming lessons, youth sports and other activities.

  • Danville Athletic Boosters — $15,000 toward improvements to the Danville High School baseball field, including work to improve field conditions, drainage and player safety.

  • Knox Technical Center — $10,000 to support its OTC+ program, which expands access to career and technical education opportunities for area students.

  • Advocates for Families — $8,000 to support Youth Intervention Services, providing mentoring and individualized support to Knox County youth.

  • Place 4 Grace — $8,000 to support the expansion of p4g THRIFT into a new location within the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, helping generate revenue for maternity housing and support services.

  • Civil Air Patrol 299th Cadet Flight — $4,000 toward startup costs for the newly chartered Knox County squadron, which provides aviation and leadership experiences for youth ages 12–18.

  • Knox Health Planning Partnership — $2,500 to help provide transportation assistance for qualifying Knox County residents traveling outside the county for non-emergency medical care.

  • Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Action Commission — $2,100 to purchase an automated external defibrillator (AED) for its Mount Vernon clinic.


The Foundation also allocated $20,000 for Career and Technical Education scholarships.

“The projects supported through this grant cycle reflect the wide range of work happening every day to make Knox County a stronger community,” said Lloyd “From expanding access to food to creating opportunities for students and supporting local organizations, we’re grateful to be able to invest in work that will make a meaningful difference for Knox County residents.”

Knox County Foundation accepts Small Grant applications four times each year and Major Grant applications twice annually. The next Small Grant cycle begins with an Expression of Intent deadline of September 15, followed by an application deadline of October 15. Grant decisions will be announced in November.

For more information about Knox County Foundation grant opportunities and application requirements, visit knoxcf.org.

Knox County Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Knox County through charitable giving.