Salvation Army Captain Moretz honored with Zelkowitz Award for Community Service

MOUNT VERNON — Food For The Hungry (FFTH) is proud to announce Captain Christine Moretz as the recipient of the 2025 Zelkowitz Memorial Award for Community Service. The award, sponsored by Mount Vernon Nazarene University, recognizes an individual whose tireless dedication and community leadership embody a spirit of service and compassion.

The Zelkowitz Memorial Award is presented annually during the Food For The Hungry Broadcast to a citizen of Knox County who exemplifies a spirit of community service, particularly in relation to Food For The Hungry. The award is given in memory of Stephen Zelkowitz, former president and general manager of Mount Vernon Broadcasting and president of Mount Vernon Cablevision. As a community leader in various charitable events, Stephen helped grow the Food For The Hungry initiative in Knox County, supporting Charlie Kilkenny’s vision.

Captain Moretz serves as the Commanding Officer of The Salvation Army Mount Vernon Corps, where her leadership, compassion, and unwavering dedication have become an anchor of hope for the community she affectionately calls her “second home.”

Born in Hempstead, New York, Captain Moretz’s childhood as a “Salvation Army officer’s kid” fostered a deep-seated heart for people, taking her family to New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and Ohio. These experiences planted the seeds of service that would later define her calling.

Before her full-time ministry, Captain Moretz built a successful career in early childhood education, earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati while working as the Childcare Director at Glenwood Childcare Center in Columbus, Ohio, and raising her two children, Michael and Victoria.

Answering a lifelong call to Officership in 2011, she was commissioned as an Ordained Officer in The Salvation Army in 2013. Following impactful service in Youngstown, Ohio, she was appointed to lead the Mount Vernon Corps, where her impact has been profound.

Captain Moretz’s work perfectly reflects the mission of The Salvation Army: to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in Christ’s name without discrimination. Her leadership is characterized by humility, tireless service, and a genuine love for every person who walks through her doors. She is a hard-working, dedicated, and selfless servant committed to building a better tomorrow for the Mount Vernon community.

As the presenter of the award, FFTH President Austin Swallow and MVNU President Carson Castleman both praised the Captain. Castleman said to Captain Christine, “On behalf of MVNU, we are excited to give this (award) to you. As I watched your (testimonial) video, I saw all throughout it the tapestry of Jesus Christ. Thank you for your service to this community — thank you for your service to the Kingdom.”

Swallow followed, saying, “Christine is a true friend. She does live what she preaches, and I appreciate that the most about her.”

Captain Christine’s response to the praise was humble, saying: “I give God all the glory. It is because of Him that I live and breathe, and I am able to do what I can do for others. We don’t get it right all the time, but I do my best to love the Lord through service to others and to love his people – because He loves me and He loves you. I’m so very honored and humbled and grateful. To God be the glory! Thank you — thank you to this community.” 

To learn more about FFTH, visit www.FoodForTheHungryCares.org and find history, photos, radio interviews, and more. The video archive of the 2025 FFTH Live Broadcast is available at MVNU.tv in the on-demand tab and will be available for a full year. The Zelkowitz Memorial Award is presented at the 44-minute and 27-second mark in the broadcast.