State Troopers will be going door-to-door in Iowa today-- but not for the usual reasons. They'll bring turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie to a needy family in each of Iowa's 99 counties.
Trooper Dan Loussaert will help deliver Thanksgiving baskets to families in six eastern Iowa counties, including Scott and Muscatine. And, it's the first year the Iowa State Patrol has collected over $5,100 from employees, businesses, and the public to help families going through a difficult time during the holidays.
Each basket costs $17 and comes with everything needed to cook a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Trooper Dan says the state patrol worked with the CEO of Fareway to reduce the cost of each basket. Fareway also donated an extra 100-dollars for a local food bank.
He says local clergy helped connect the state patrol with needy families in the area. They include low-income and homeless families, a family of 12, people who have recently lost relatives, or are suffering from disabilities.
The 99 baskets cost about $1,600, so the Iowa State Patrol has $3,500 left over, which will be donated to 15 food banks across the state.