SYCAMORE – For as long as she can remember, Noel Smith has been collecting clothing and household goods for those less fortunate.

When she was a girl, she helped her parents collect clothing to send to Africa. When she discovered about 15 years ago that she has Native American ancestry, she changed her focus to help those in some of America’s poorest communities.

“My aunt is the one who started the ball rolling with donations,” Smith said. “She started with Campbell’s Soup labels, and sent them to the Indians instead of sending them to school. Then [our focus] went to baby clothes, and only baby clothes, which we knew a certain reservation would take.”