Carter volunteer keeps food program going for local families

CARTER, Mont. — Carter resident Judy Hertz is recognized this month as NonStop Local’s Good Samaritan for helping lead a food donation program that serves people in her community.

Every other week, Hertz prepares the Carter Community Hall for a large haul of free food from Set Free Ministry in Great Falls. She and other volunteers then make the 23-mile drive to the Electric City to pick up the food and bring it back to Carter.

The program started in 2015 and grew out of a connection between two friends.

“My husband and pastor JT at Set Free worked at the Malmstrom Airforce Base. And of course we were all at Belt at one time and knew each other quite well,” Hertz said.

Hertz explained that Pastor JT asked her husband, Leo, to start hauling food to Fort Benton for people in need. She said he agreed right away.

“He loved people, he loved to serve them, and get to know them,” Hertz said.

Later, Judy and Leo Hertz began taking food to Carter every other Thursday. When they had too much, they donated the extra to Fort Benton so it would not go to waste.

Hertz said the donations helped nearly 30 people in the local community. She said giving back in Carter gave her a way to meet people and serve them.

Karen Nestorick, another Carter resident who has known Hertz for more than 10 years, described her as someone who always puts others first.

“She will go above and beyond. She would give you the shirt off her back if she needed to. She’s got a heart like I’ve never known,” Nestorick said.

After Leo passed away, Hertz said it mattered to her to continue the work he started.

“It’s important to get that food out to the people. This way it gets to people that can use it and could need it. So, it’s a real community thing,” Hertz said.

Hertz now has help from other volunteers to keep the program going and make sure food continues reaching people in the Carter area.