While millions of American families are struggling as the SNAP food assistance program remains suspended during the government shutdown, one college basketball star is shining in a different way — not under the spotlight, but through compassion.
Iowa State’s Audi Crooks launched her foundation’s “Knock N Dash” program to deliver hundreds of care packages to families in need across her hometown, Kossuth County, Iowa. Each box is left quietly at their doorstep — no questions, no judgment, only kindness.
“A lot of people have ideas about making the world better, but it’s about action,” Crooks told The Des Moines Register. “Being in this position gives me the chance to make a change.”
Crooks knows what struggle looks like. Growing up, she saw classmates skip meals and parents worry about rent. Now a national star and two-time All-American, she’s using her platform not for fame, but for impact.
More than 300 families have already received help through her initiative. “Some people suffer in silence,” she said. “I just want to remind them they’re not alone.”
On the court, she’s fierce — a 6’3″ powerhouse and one of the nation’s best players. Off the court, she’s gentle, humble, and deeply human.
Her story is spreading warmth far beyond Iowa — proof that even in the darkest times, a single act of kindness can light up an entire community.