Vicki Hansen has been overwhelmed with the support for her project to provide fudge for troops stationed overseas.
The Marshalltown resident, who has been referred to as the Fudge Lady, makes hundreds of pounds of fudge each month to send to troops and is constantly seeking empty tins to help with the effort.
Community members have come out in full force as Wolfe Clinic collected 55 tins, the American Legion in Newton is bringing a truckload and United Bank and Trust has offered up a storage facility at the former KFC location on Westwood Drive.
Article Photos
T-R PHOTO BY ANDREW POTTER
Vicki Hansen, center, has received community support for her effort to send fudge to troops. Pictured with her are Mary Bryant, left, of United Bank and Trust and Lee Malaska of Wolfe Eye Clinic. The group is standing in front of the old KFC building, which United Bank has offered to Hansen as a site to store her empty tins.
"I can't believe it," Hansen said of the support. "This is fabulous."
Lee Malaska, of Wolfe Eye Clinic, liked Hansen's idea and then made a call out to her fellow employees to help.
"It's a good way to support our troops," Malaska said.
Mary Bryant, of United Bank and Trust, said the company was also happy to help.
"We want to help people in our community and support good causes," Bryant said. "We believe in the cause that she's doing."
Hansen's story first appeared in the Times-Republican in March after the newspaper was contacted by a service man who received her fudge. Since then, the story was picked up by the Associated Press and appeared in several publications throughout the country.
Hansen heard from people as far away as Texas who wanted to donate to the cause.
"It went like wildfire," Hansen said of her story. "It just went across the country. I was tickled to death."
Due to the heat, Hansen has taken a summer break from making fudge as she doesn't want it to melt during shipping. She will start back up again this fall and is looking for tins or money to use for postage.
Those looking to help with the effort can contact Hansen at 641-751-1901.