DSCF dedicates storage facility in honor of Judy Carter

The Dripping Springs Community Foundation and the Helping Hands Food Pantry dedicated a storage facility to the memory of Judy Carter of Dripping Springs, a DSCF Board member and longtime activist in the community. The ceremony took place on April 22.

Judy Carter was a 32-year resident of Dripping Springs. She was also the executive director of the Capital Area Food Bank (now Central Texas Food Bank) – for 20 years and grew it from a two person agency to one that employed more than 120 employees. She conceived, developed or greatly expanded all of Austin’s food banking – increasing the number of agencies served and creating Kids’ Cafes (for hungry children). She also served as the national director of Second Harvest– and rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in honor of food banking.

Judy passed away fairly suddenly from a blood cancer last August. She leaves husband Ed Carter (himself the former director of the Texas Lung Association), two children and four grand-children.

“We wanted to pay tribute to Judy and to her service to the city and the region,” DSCF Board President Robert Musgrove explained. “Fighting hunger was a lifetime passion for her, so we on the DSCF Board felt that some contribution to that cause would be a fitting way to commemorate Judy.”

Musgrove added that Chris Marcum, grants chairperson for the DSCF board, reached out to the Helping Hands board and found that the food pantry needed a storage building to house equipment and non-perishable foods. The two groups agreed on the project, with DSCF supplying the bulk of the funds. The building was recently completed, and a commemorative plaque dedicated to the memory of Judy Carter now hangs in the Helping Hands facility on the grounds of the United Methodist Church on Ranch Road 12.