CCS Unsung Hero recognized for 40 years of service

Friday, Nov. 14, 2014

OGDEN — Jan Luger was named the Catholic Community Services Unsung Hero for dedicating more than 40 years to serving others. The award was presented at the 2014 CCS Humanitarian Awards Dinner held at Little America Hotel Nov. 6. 

Luger’s service started with her involvement in the American Youth Soccer Organization and math programs when her three children were young, said Marcie Valdez, director of CCS Northern Utah, as she introduced Luger at the dinner.

Born in Canada, Luger met her husband, Jerry, while she was serving as a teacher in Germany and he was in the Air Force. When they moved to Utah in 1983, Luger began volunteering with the SHARE food pantry and the Northern Utah Food Co-op. In addition, she had been active in other non-profits, including Interfaith Works, Your Family Connection and Northern Utah United Way. 

Luger has managed the CCS off-site food pantry located in the Marion Hotel on 25th and Lincoln Avenue for more than 20 years, said Valdez. “This is a site that directly serves many individuals who lack transportation and the resources to come to our main facility; most of them are elderly and/or disabled and are living in extreme poverty.”

In addition, Luger delivers monthly food baskets to an average of 20 homebound seniors and disabled clients. 

“She not only provides life-sustaining food, she also provides friendship to many who are at risk of isolation; she reminds them they are cared for and loved with her warm smile and kind words,” said Valdez. “It would be impossible to count the hours she has dedicated to CCS and other agencies these past decades, but it is easy to measure her impact. Jan will tell you that volunteering is the rent you pay for living; she is truly an inspiration.” 

When Luger began volunteering, CCS was located on 23rd Street in Ogden in a small house with steps that were difficult for elderly people and people with disabilities to navigate, she said, adding that at that time, they took food to people at the Marion Hotel, so arrangements were made for CCS to have a food pantry there twice a month. 

Luger enjoys serving others, she said. “The people I deal with are very appreciative. My job is almost all positive; everybody else has a whole bunch of negatives in their jobs,” she said. “I find I get more out of it than I put into it. But I couldn’t do what I do without the help from my team: my husband, Jerry, Tom Hamm, Pete Stender and Jan Clark. They have served along-side me for many years.”