MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW) – One of Marion County’s most iconic holiday fundraising initiatives is scheduled for this Saturday morning in downtown Marion.

The WMRN Peanut Push will kick off at 10 a.m. on Saturday on South Main Street at Founders Park. Founded in 1969 by Marion County radio icon Charlie Evers, the event generates funding for the annual Christmas Clearinghouse presented by the Junior Service Guild of Marion County. The event features contestants – crawling on their hands and knees – who attempt to push a peanut in its shell across the street using only their noses.

According to Jodi Rife, coordinator of the Christmas Clearinghouse, throughout the years, local residents, civic groups, and businesses have been extremely generous in their support of the Christmas Clearinghouse and the Peanut Push. In fact, the Junior Service Guild has collected more than $1.5 million for the annual holiday charitable activity and distributed more than $1.2 million in gifts and other items to Marion County children and families in need.

The Marion Area Harley Riders Association (MAHRA) has been the No. 1 supporter, raising and donating more than $400,000 to the Christmas Clearinghouse since 2000. That amount includes a generous check totaling $38,871.38 the group gave to the Junior Service Guild in 2022.

The OK Café donated $6,015 to the Christmas Clearinghouse last year, marking a $1,700 increase in its gift from 2021. Route 30 Harley-Davidson in Upper Sandusky contributed $900 to the Christmas Clearinghouse.

Other top fundraisers in 2022 included Peanut Push Queen Elizabeth Millisor, who collected and donated $3,234 to the effort, and Peanut Push King Daniel Bradshaw, who collected $1,218 to support the event.

Peanut Push Prince and Princess Graham and Lila White, twin brother and sister, donated $1,380. Siblings K.J. and Kurerra Vernon raised $753.40.

Last year, the Christmas Clearinghouse served 458 families and 1,310 children in Marion County, Rife said. This year, the Junior Service Guild has registered 490 families and will serve a total of 1,498 children in need this Christmas.

How to get involved

People who would like to participate in the 2023 WMRN Peanut Push can register the day of the event beginning at 9 a.m. at A Taste of Memphis, 138 S. Main St. in Marion. The registration fee is $20.

A separate Peanut Push race for children age 12 and younger will also be staged on Saturday morning.

For those who don’t want to push a peanut, but still want to make a financial donation to the Christmas Clearinghouse can do so on Saturday during the event. Donations can also be made on the Junior Service Guild of Marion County Ohio Facebook page. Click on the “About” tab and scroll down the page to find the donation site.

Rife said the Christmas Clearinghouse is still in need of non-perishable food items, blankets, hats, gloves, toys, books, and monetary donations to support the 2023 effort. The Junior Service Guild will accept donations Dec. 4-15 at its headquarters at 1680 Marion Waldo Road. The headquarters will be open from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Gifts and other items donated for children will be distributed on Dec. 16 at the headquarters.

For information about the 2023 Christmas Clearinghouse and Peanut Push, call 740-341-5871 or email jsgchristmasclearinghouse@gmail.com.