DES MOINES, Iowa —

The lights on Candy Cane Lane will flick on Dec. 3, drawing drivers and walkers to a must-see holiday display in Beaverdale, where one homeowner has dedicated the season to fighting hunger with the Food Bank of Iowa.

At her home on Ashby Avenue, Julie Marks is putting the finishing touches on her display and the fundraiser it anchors.

“We’ve raised $100,700 to date since 2020,” Marks said.

For Marks, the project is personal. As a young mom, she leaned on food pantries to help feed her children. Now she’s giving back to meet a need she says hasn’t eased.

“They’re not caught up. There are people in great need right now, and I believe it’s just going to be worse,” Marks said. “We’re talking about cutting food stamps and eliminating some altogether, so there are going t

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