An 11-year tradition of giving back to the area began when one Carroll woman decided to pass down what she learned as a child to her daughter. Luanne Kustra says she was taught to think of others at a very young age.
Then, when her daughter, Katie, was in the sixth grade, a trip to the local food pantry brought about a conversation on ways they could work together to help others.
That was all it took for the mother-daughter team to swing into action. They contacted the Carroll Community of Concern food pantry, Hy-Vee and Region XII Council of Governments, who provides the bus, and got right to work with their first food drive.
Luanne says they have seen the numbers of people using the food pantry grow over the past decade.
She adds that no matter what you can give, whether it is one item or bags of groceries, every little bit goes back to helping friends and neighbors in our area. And, although Katie has grown, gone off to college, gotten married and had her first child, Luanne has continued on with the annual tradition. This year’s event will be held Saturday, Dec. 2. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Carroll Hy-Vee.
