2013 Most Influential Women Honoree: Kristy Carter

Kristy Carter sees and often, personally feels, the value in her work.

It was during a partnership with the Missouri State University football team that The Kitchen Inc.’s special events coordinator felt the full weight of the organization’s purpose and her place within it.

While working as community development manager – a position for which she was hired in January 2012 – Carter worked with MSU head football coach Terry Allen to send school-aged children living in The Kitchen’s Missouri Hotel homeless shelter on a field trip to attend a preseason football practice. Waiting for players to arrive on the field, a young boy pointed to a pair of shoes and noted his belief that someone had lost them. Carter told the child they likely belonged to a football player who had changed out of them to put on his cleats.

“Puzzled, he looked up at me and said, ‘You mean he has more than one pair of shoes?’” Carter says. “As tears rolled down my cheek, I realized how a simple pair of shoes could have such an impact on a child.”

It was a humbling experience for both the children and the team, Carter says, noting some of the MSU football players had grown up in the foster care system and were familiar with children living in shelters or who were homeless, while others were met with a brand new experience.

“The players encouraged the kids to stay in school and study hard so they can attend college one day,” Carter adds. “The kids left Plaster Field with MSU football T-shirts and their heads held high and proud while thinking about their future.”

In November 2012, the Nixa resident was promoted to her current position as special events coordinator at The Kitchen, which focuses on homelessness and poverty in the community. In the role, her duties include coordinating and organizing fundraising events and programs, soliciting donations, and developing and maintaining social media campaigns.

The job often finds her working with companies and businesspeople.

“I really enjoy explaining the needs within our community to businesses and organizations and then help them develop a plan to succeed in helping others,” Carter says, noting she has worked with several companies to identify the best ways for their employees to make a difference via volunteering or hosting procurement drives.

Beyond The Kitchen, Carter served as president of the Nixa Junior High PTA during the 2012–13 school year and is active on the Summit Intermediate and Nixa High School PTAs. At Redeemer Lutheran Church, Carter gives her time on the organization’s capital campaign, as a youth teacher and life group participant.[[In-content Ad]]