Planning for Future Generations

Creating a Legacy of Hope

He may be retiring, but Kurt and his family are making sure their impact continues to be felt for years to come

For over 30 years, Kurt and Karen Reiber have dedicated their time, talent and financial support to Freestore Foodbank’s mission of improving lives by eliminating hunger in partnership with our community.

Kurt first got engaged with Freestore Foodbank when he began serving on the Client Services Committee in 1996 and later was asked to join the Board. After joining the Board in 2006, Kurt and Karen decided to bring their children with them to volunteer. Today, their grandchildren volunteer alongside them. As Karen shares, “Even the smallest commitments make a difference.”

Kurt’s involvement at Freestore Foodbank increased to President & CEO in 2011 — and he will retire from the position in July 2026. During Kurt’s tenure, Freestore Foodbank’s impact has expanded — more than doubling the regional meal distribution and launching new programs to increase access to food, workforce training and stabilizing services.

When Kurt and Karen began the process of updating their estate plans, they wanted to establish a trust to support their family in the future and give back to the community and causes they care about.  “Kurt and I have been very blessed in our lives and our families’ lives. And it was important to us when making our estate plans that we share those blessings,” says Karen.

By naming Freestore Foodbank in their estate plan, the Reibers will help to empower our partner agencies across 20 counties and further establish new avenues for nutritious food distribution in addition to those developed during Kurt’s tenure, like School Pantries and Clinic Pantries. Long term, their gift will continue our work — work that has led Freestore Foodbank to become a model for other food banks nationwide in developing workforce programs and services to advance economic mobility.

“We are not just helping our local community but also enabling Freestore Foodbank to continue to share best practices and build on the strength of the network well into the future,” Kurt shares.

To find out more about ways to include Freestore Foodbank in your will or estate plans, visit mylegacygift.freestorefoodbank.org or contact Maureen Gregory, Director of Donor Engagement at (513) 482-7542.