Food Bank of Wyoming, Wyoming Hunger Initiative, and the Cent$ible Nutrition Program are partnering to provide a webinar series to empower hunger relief organizations in funding their programs and organizations. This series is designed to help your organization think strategically about how to serve your communities, develop your brand and image, navigate funding opportunities, and write grants that sustain your organization into the future.

The schedule is as follows:

• Wednesday, April 17th, 9-11am

  • Topic: Make Your WyoGives Day the Best Yet!

  • Speaker: Jody Shields, Executive Director of the Wyoming Nonprofit Network

• Wednesday, April 24th, 9-11am

  • Topic: How to Market Your Organization for Success

  • Speaker: Kali Shannon McCrackin Goodenough, Marketing Coordinator of the University of Wyoming Cent$ible Nutrition Program

• Wednesday, May 1st, 12-2pm

  • Topic: Get Ready to Write Your Grant

  • Speaker: Becca Steinhoff, Executive Director of the John P. Ellbogen Foundation

• Tuesday, May 7th, 12-2pm

  • Topic: Plan, Fund, & Manage Your Nonprofit: Your Library Toolbox

  • Speaker: Rachael Svoboda, Wyoming Library to Business

• Tuesday, May 14th, 12-2pm

  • Topic: Recruit, Engage, & Retain Your Volunteers

  • Speaker: Eva Estorga, St. Joseph's Food Pantry Coordinator

• Monday, May 20th, 12-2pm

  • Topic: Get Specific! Details of Grant Writing

  • Speaker: Meg Van Baalen-Wood, ECTL Associate Director of Critical & Creative Thinking and Senior Lecturer in English

Register today! Visit https://sites.google.com/view/grant-writing-anti-hunger-orgs/home?authuser=1 to join us for one, two, or all of the sessions!

Sources of high-quality protein are notoriously expensive and difficult to procure for local anti-hunger organizations. In partnership with University of Wyoming Extension 4-H and FFA, Fair to Fork works to purchase secondary hogs through a lottery selection, from every county in Wyoming. Wyoming Hunger Initiative will purchase the pig, ensure the meat is processed by a USDA or state-inspected facility, and then coordinate with the 4-H or FFA member to donate it to a local anti-hunger organization in the county of origin.

Joining us is as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Sign up for the lottery through your local University of Wyoming Extension Office or FFA chapter by using this link to complete and submit the online form indicating your interest in Fair to Fork.

2. If you are selected, your hog will be purchased for $500. It will then be processed (at no cost to you) by a USDA or state-licensed facility, then donated to a local anti-hunger organization of your choice in your community.

3. Come to the Wyoming State Fair to be recognized by Governor Mark Gordon and First Lady Jennie Gordon!

2023 Fair to Fork Participants:

Sienna Roaque, Albany County

Adelle Torbert, Albany County

Colton Bitton, Big Horn County

Haylee Nichols, Campbell County

Zachary McMillin, Campbell County

Austin Vayden, Converse County

Izzi Cruickshank, Fremont County

Daniel Bennett, Goshen County

Avery Tighe, Goshen County

Justin Sullivan, Johnson County

Paige Matthews, Laramie County

Adam Poelma, Laramie County

Chase Brewer, Natrona County

Colt Peterson, Niobrara County

Mason Green, Park County

Levi Fox, Platte County

Cope Thomas, Sweetwater County

Cora & Noah Robertson, Teton County

Cheznee Mackey, Uinta County

Owen Lungren, Washakie County

Burgess Hamilton, Washakie County

Serenity Kline, Weston County 

2022 Fair to Fork Participants:

Braden Crawford, Albany County

Braxton Lane, Big Horn County

Jayden Haugen, Campbell County

Lyric Jaure, Carbon County

Madeline Fleenor, Crook County

Justice Laird, Fremont County

Eli Case, Goshen County

Owen McCumber, Hot Springs County

Brynlee Loyd, Laramie County

Wyatt Strauch, Niobrara County

Allison Morrison, Park County

Karly Jones, Platte County

Natalee Hebst, Sheridan County

Eddie Owens, Teton County

Ira Croft, Washakie County

Join us in going whole hog in the fight against food insecurity in Wyoming!

To learn more and to download resources specific to this program, visit nohungerwyo.org/fair-to-fork

As one approach to ensure we are living up to fulfilling our promise to provide the framework and foundation for successful work in this space, we have spent the last couple of months updating our website and resources to meet the need of stakeholders statewide.

Furthermore, information about specific Wyoming Hunger Initiative programs has been added to better assist you in navigating the website, Wyoming Hunger Initiative programs, and the resource guides.

When you visit our home page, the first thing you may notice is that Wyoming Hunger Initiative has a new program listed. Although Grow A Little Extra is in its fourth year, it originally was nestled under the Food from the Farm + Ranch umbrella until this year.

Click on the newly designed Grow A Little Extra logo to learn how you can make a difference, one vegetable at a time. Grow A Little Extra grant applications, growing instructions, information about your local donation locations, and the newly developed video highlighting this program are included as well. Take a look!

The next thing you may notice is that the "Programs" tab has changed slightly. Although Food from the Farm + Ranch was launched in May 2020 to use Wyoming agricultural products to combat food insecurity, we couldn't have known that the program would expand to include innovative approaches to solving food insecurity such as Beef for Backpacks and Fair to Fork in addition to the livestock donation component.

If you click on Food from the Farm + Ranch logo from the home page, you will find yourself on this landing page - but not to worry - you can still click into whichever program you are looking to find from here!

You can still look at the approved list of USDA and state-inspected processors for Wyoming Hunger Initiative or the list of generous livestock donors by visiting the Livestock Donations page under Food from the Farm + Ranch.

Speaking of Beef for Backpacks, we are thrilled with this new addition to Wyoming Hunger Initiative. This program utilizes Wyoming resources to support the work of weekend food programs, making a real impact for children. After a successful pilot in Laramie County, Beef for Backpacks was expanded statewide to meet the needs of programs in almost every Wyoming county.

When you visit the Beef for Backpacks page, you can easily learn about the number of beef required to meet the need for each participating program. You will also find a list of donors who made this program possible in the first year!

In partnership with University of Wyoming Extension, 4-H, and FFA, Fair to Fork works to purchase secondary hogs through a lottery selection, from every county in Wyoming. Wyoming Hunger Initiative will purchase the pig, ensure the meat is processed by a USDA or state-inspected participating facility, and then coordinate with the 4-H or FFA member to donate it to a local anti-hunger organization in the county of origin.

New this year is a partner resource guide as part of Fair to Fork for each county 4-H office or FFA chapter to access the materials they need to encourage youth to participate. These resources can be downloaded and utilized as each county and chapter sees fit.

The "Get Help" section of the website has a page for each county and the resources available in that county. If you are reading this and don't see a resource listed that should be, reach out to info@nohungerwyo.org and let us know! We want to keep this resource listing as up-to-date as possible.

Although that covers the new additions to the website, don't forget to stop by the Fork + Spoon Blog to keep up to date with all the new and exciting Wyoming Hunger Initiative news as well as subscribe to the Wyoming Hunger Initiative newsletter that comes out monthly. To subscribe, visit the homepage and scroll down until you see the word "subscribe."

Thank you for joining the fight against food insecurity in Wyoming!

In 2023, Wyoming Hunger Initiative celebrated its fourth anniversary while honoring the initial tenants that the initiative was based on: one, to never reinvent the wheel and two, to be in all twenty three counties. Through the relationships that have been developed across the state specific to food insecurity, Wyoming Hunger Initiative has identified partners in every community. Six regional directors were chosen to build networks and create a platform for communication for individuals and organizations that are united in the goal of solving food insecurity in Wyoming. Regional directors live and work in the regions they serve, but also travel to represent Wyoming Hunger Initiative throughout their regions and state wide.

Wyoming Hunger Initiative Regional Directors are chosen by First Lady Jennie to represent a region based on their awareness of food insecurity or role within their community that is directly related to food insecurity. Regional Directors have been assigned multiple surrounding counties to bring a network together to share ideas and voice concerns that may be solved on a regional level or be elevated to the Wyoming Hunger Initiative for statewide coordination. Meet our team!

Sierra Mitchell founded the Afton Food Pantry in 2016 with little knowledge of food pantries or how to operate one. A firm believer in the philosophy of “see a problem, solve a problem,” she decided she couldn’t stand by when she knew individuals in her community were going hungry. The Afton Food Pantry has grown to include refrigerators, freezers, fresh produce, meat, bread, and non-perishable food items that are distributed weekly. To date, over 29,000 individuals have benefitted from the Afton Food Pantry’s efforts. Sierra lives in Afton with her husband Michael and three children. Sierra serves as the Southwest Region director which includes Lincoln, Sublette, Teton, and Uinta counties.

Breean Waller is a Wyoming native with roots deep in the soil of a sugar beet farm in the scenic Big Horn Basin. After her days at Northwest College, she embarked on a vibrant journey in the Real Estate industry. Driven by an unwavering passion for aiding those in need, Breean dedicated years of her life as a compassionate Certified Nursing Assistant in hospice care. Breean champions the idea that access to healthy, nourishing food is a fundamental right for all. Currently serving as the Program Coordinator for Johnson County Friends Feeding Friends, she has found her true calling. Nestled in Buffalo with her husband Jim, two children, three cats, and two dogs, Breean considers herself blessed to call Wyoming home. Her belief in making the world a kinder, friendlier, and more compassionate place radiates through every aspect of her life and she is excited to be part of the Wyoming Hunger Initiative team to continue making a difference in the lives of Wyoming's citizens. Breean serves as the Northwest Region director which includes Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Sheridan, and Weston counties.

Debbie Kelly works for the University of Wyoming Cent$ible Nutrition Program where she is a program educator for Park County and Northern Big Horn County. She teaches adult nutrition and cooking classes and goes into schools in Park and Big Horn counties that have 50% or more youth that qualify for 50% or more free and reduced lunch. Debbie has been part of the Wyoming Hunger Initiative Grow a Little Extra project for the past two years as she has garden space at the Park County Complex in Cody where she grows produce to donate to the local food pantries. Prior to serving as Regional Director, she was instrumental in the Food from the Field program where she picked up meat from her processor in Park County and got it to the local food pantries in her region to distribute. Debbie is a Wyoming native; she and her husband Gene have two children Dave and Julie who both live in Cody with their families. Debbie serves as the North Region director which includes Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park, and Washakie counties.

Tim Sheppard retired from the Army after a 40 year career which included serving as the chief of staff for the Wyoming Army National Guard. As an Army Engineer, he enjoyed completing construction projects throughout Wyoming and the world.  Currently, he serves as the executive director of the Wyoming Veterans Commission. Additionally, he serves as the distinguished past governor for the Rocky Mountain District of Kiwanis and as past president of the Cheyenne Kiwanis Club; board president for Raising Readers in Wyoming and the Cheyenne Family YMCA; and, board vice president for the Cheyenne After School for Kids program. A 2007 Leadership Wyoming graduate, he currently serves as Vice Chair of its board of directors. The colonel is married with seven wonderful children to include two sets of back-to-back twins.  Tim is the Southeast Region director which includes Albany, Goshen, Laramie, Niobrara, and Platte counties.

Deanna Trumble has lived in and served the Lander area for 35 years. She is currently the Executive Director of Lander's First Stop Help Center and has volunteered extensively in the fight against food insecurity in numerous local organizations as well as national and international ones, to include the Relief Bus in New York City and orphanages and schools in Haiti, El Salvador, and beyond. Additionally, she has served as a foster parent, exchange student host, Girl Scout leader, and is a long-time swimming teacher as well as swim officiant for the Wyoming High School Association. She is the recipient of Fremont County State Farm's #everydayheroes award in 2019 for working to make Lander a better place, one request at a time. She has a son, daughter, and son-in-law as well as three grandchildren. Deanna is the Central Region director which includes Carbon, Fremont, and Sweetwater counties.

Greta Spencer is a native of Indiana but moved West in 1980 to attend the University of Wyoming where she studied Education. She retired recently from teaching after 32 years; teaching elementary in Title I schools for 9 years before she started Wyoming’s first McKinney-Vento Program (Homeless Education) for Natrona County School District #1. She worked with homeless students ages 4-21 for the last 23 years. These most at risk students are her passion. With guidance and support, she has seen many students flourish and reach goals they never thought possible.

Greta is a mother to three adult children and is GG to five beautiful grandchildren.

She is also a member of Rotary (past President), active in her church, and enjoys volunteering at the Unaccompanied Students Initiative (USI) youth house. Greta's region includes Converse and Natrona counties.

Wyoming Hunger Initiative prides itself on being uniquely positioned to provide the framework and foundation for successful collaboration and solutions to hunger statewide. To learn more about the Regional Director framework and the regions they serve, visit the Quick-Resource Guide on the Wyoming Hunger Initiative website.

Wyoming Hunger Initiative was launched in 2019 with two tenants in mind: one, to never reinvent the wheel and two, to be in all twenty-three Wyoming counties. There are grassroots efforts in every Wyoming county dedicated to reducing hunger and combating food insecurity. Instead, Wyoming Hunger Initiative aims to increase awareness and support for the work of local anti-hunger organizations statewide.

Through the relationships that have been developed across the state specific to food insecurity, Wyoming Hunger Initiative has identified partners in every community. Thanks to a grant from the Hughes Charitable Foundation, Wyoming Hunger Initiative was able to host its third Regional Summit in southeast Wyoming earlier this month to bring folks together who are working in this space.

The result? A whole lot of networking, sharing of resources, and collaboration that will lead northeast Wyoming forward together while also producing realistic action items that are already underway.

The event kicked off with a volunteer recognition celebration where anti-hunger organizations in southeast Wyoming nominated a volunteer from their organization to be recognized. Without the countless volunteers across the county, this work wouldn't be possible.

The following volunteers were recognized at this event:

• Marisa Beahm, Unaccompanied Students Initiative, Cheyenne

• David Breeden, WYO HELP, Torrington

• Jay Butler, Douglas Boys & Girls Club, Douglas

• Barbara Clark, WYO HELP, Rawlins

• D"Ann Dickinson, LCCC Food Pantry, Cheyenne

• Renee Fowler, Element Church Food Pantry, Cheyenne

• Patrick Graham, Meals on Wheels of Cheyenne, Cheyenne

• Diane Griffith, Guernsey Community Food Pantry, Guernsey

• Sam Harshberger, Laramie Interfaith, Laramie

• Raymond Marquardt, True Vine Community Church, Cheyenne

• Judith Medina, Family Promise of Cheyenne

• Debbie Moberg, Veterans' Rock, Cheyenne

• Jerry Schutt, Niobrara Senior Center, Lusk

• Patricia Simpson, Laramie County Senior Activity Center, Cheyenne

• Tyler Spear, Laramie Soup Kitchen, Laramie

• Rodney and Mary Jane Vyff, St. Joseph's Food Pantry, Cheyenne

• Ron Weickum, Friday Food Bag Foundation, Cheyenne

• Ashley Wiese-Elsom, Needs, Inc., Cheyenne

• Wyoming Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association

In addition to our volunteers, we have a wonderful network of folks who support Wyoming Hunger Initiative throughout the year. Beef for Backpacks launched in 2023 to support weekend food bag programs with so many people coming together to make the program possible. A key element of the program is the donation of beef and thus we honored the beef donors from the southeast region during the dinner as well. The following donors were recognized for their contribution to Beef for Backpacks:

• Child Land and Livestock, LLC; Mark and Debie Child

• Harding Ranch; Kiel and Kristin Harding

• King Ranch Company; James and Kendall Roberts

• Pronghorn Ranch; Jay and Linda Butler

• Tyrrell Chevrolet; Brian, Peaches, and Dallas Tyrrell

The next day we got down to business by taking a hard look at what we can do to improve and expand resources for anti-hunger organizations in southeast Wyoming. Together with twenty-five different agencies, we identified challenges, brainstormed solutions, and developed a list of realistic action items.

The following anti-hunger organizations were involved with the third Wyoming Hunger Initiative Regional Summit in southeast Wyoming.

• Boys & Girls Club of Cheyenne

• Cent$ible Nutrition Program 

• Douglas Boys & Girls Club

• Element Church Food Pantry

• Family Promise of Cheyenne

• Feeding Laramie Valley

• Food Bank of Wyoming

• Friday Food Bag Foundation

• Laramie Connections

• Laramie County Senior Activity Center

• Laramie Interfaith

• Laramie Soup Kitchen

• LCCC Food Pantry

• Little White Pantry

• Meals on Wheels of Cheyenne

• Needs, Inc.

• Niobrara Senior Center

• St. Joseph's Food Pantry

• True Vince Community Church

• Unaccompanied Students Initiative

• University of Wyoming Veterans Services Center

• Veterans' Rock

• WYO HELP

• Wyoming Department of Education

• Wyoming 211

It is safe to say that this group is "all in" when it comes to fighting food insecurity in Wyoming. We look forward to the continued collaboration and the work that will take place in the coming year thanks to the passion and commitment of these organizations.

Lastly, Wyoming Hunger Initiative team members and regional directors traveled to be part of this event. The passion that you see here is what drives the work that Wyoming Hunger Initiative has done and continues to do. Thank you for joining us!

Photo credit: Janelle Rose Photography

Wyoming Hunger Initiative wants to ensure that all Wyoming families in need are able to enjoy a holiday meal, which is why we are proud to support Shop with a Cop programs in Wyoming. In the spirit of never reinventing the wheel, Wyoming Hunger Initiative joined forces with local Shop with a Cop programs around the state where local law enforcement agencies work with school districts to hand-select children to participate. Children are paired with a law enforcement officer to spend designated gift funds however they would like but more often than not, they spend their money on gifts for their parents, siblings, and other family members rather than on themselves.

Shop with a Cop programs have been taking place for quite some time but in 2020, as a thank you to all of the law enforcement personnel around the state who stepped up to assist with all of the mobile food pantries that took place to support families in need during the pandemic, Wyoming Hunger Initiative partnered with local programs to provide a Christmas meal basket for each participating child.

While law enforcement officers play a critical role in the criminal justice system, that is not their only role to play within the community. In fact, many local law enforcement agencies prioritize volunteerism, relationships, and community events. Shop with a Cop programs promote a positive first experience for children with members of the community who may otherwise hesitate to engage with police officers on a regular basis. It also allows children to become familiar with police and feel comfortable in their presence. It ultimately teaches children that police officers are individuals who have unique interests, goals, and families of their own and that they are there to help.

Since 2020, so many wonderful businesses and organizations have stepped up to support this program allowing for nearly $50,000 to be allocated annually to support Shop with a Cop meal baskets statewide.

Our Wyoming law enforcement agencies are true partners in the fight against food insecurity in Wyoming! Together, we can do so much more.

Wyoming Hunger Initiative was launched in 2019 with two tenants in mind: one, to never reinvent the wheel and two, to be in all twenty-three Wyoming counties. There are grassroots efforts in every Wyoming county dedicated to reducing hunger and combating food insecurity. Instead, Wyoming Hunger Initiative aims to increase awareness and support for the work of local anti-hunger organizations statewide.

Through the relationships that have been developed across the state specific to food insecurity, Wyoming Hunger Initiative has identified partners in every community. Thanks to a grant from the Hughes Charitable Foundation, Wyoming Hunger Initiative was able to host its second Regional Summit in northeast Wyoming earlier this fall to bring folks together who are working in this space.

The result? A whole lot of networking, sharing of resources, and collaboration that will lead northeast Wyoming forward together while also producing realistic action items that are already underway.

We kicked off the event by getting down to business taking a hard look at what we can do to improve and expand resources for anti-hunger organizations in northeast Wyoming. Together, with fourteen different agencies, we identified challenges, brainstormed solutions, and developed a list of realistic action items.

The following anti-hunger organizations were involved with the second Wyoming Hunger Initiative Regional Summit in northeast Wyoming.

• Boys & Girls Club of Campbell County, Gillette

• Blessings in a Backpack, Gillette

• Bread of Life Food Pantry, Buffalo

• Cent$ible Nutrition

• Council of Community Services, Gillette

• Crook County Council of Community Services, Sundance

• Edible Prairie Project, Gillette

• Food Bank of Wyoming

• Salvation Army, Gillette

• Johnson County Friends Feeding Friends, Buffalo

• Lunch Together Soup Kitchen, Sheridan

• Salvation Army, Sheridan

• The Food Group, LLC, Sheridan

• Wright Community Assistance, Wright

To conclude the day, the volunteer recognition celebration took place where anti-hunger organizations in northeast Wyoming nominated a volunteer from their organization to be recognized. Without the countless volunteers across the region, this work wouldn't be possible.

The following volunteers were recognized at this event:

• Chris Anthes, Council of Community Services, Gillette

• Kari Bergeman, Edible Prairie Project, Gillette

• Rick Brus, Bread of Life Food Pantry, Buffalo

• Ken Ferguson, Blessings in a Backpack, Gillette

• Jennifer Heermann, The Food Group, Inc., Sheridan

• Margie Ketterling, Gillette Salvation Army, Gillette

• Sharon Miller, Johnson County Friends Feeding Friends, Buffalo

• Jeanette Ray, Upton Food Bank, Upton

• Danny Smith, Gillette Salvation Army, Gillette

• Verna Swindle, Wright Community Assistance, Wright

It is safe to say that this group is "all in" when it comes to fighting food insecurity in Wyoming. We look forward to the continued collaboration and the work that will take place in the coming year thanks to the passion and commitment of these organizations.

Lastly, Wyoming Hunger Initiative team members and regional directors traveled to be part of this event. The passion that you see here is what drives the work that Wyoming Hunger Initiative has done and continues to do. Thank you for joining us!

Photo credit: Bauman Photo & Film

Fact: Growing kids need healthy protein.

Every cell in the body is made of protein, which makes this major nutrient essential for healthy growth and development. If kids don't get enough, it can lead to a variety of negative outcomes as they age.

Fact: 1,100 is the number of bags Cheyenne's Friday Food Bag Foundation packs weekly to provide weekend food options for local children who might not otherwise have access to food away from school.

As a pilot program in 2023, Beef for Backpacks was launched to utilize Wyoming resources to support the work of programs that make a real impact for children. 18,700 beef sticks were distributed during the pilot period in Laramie County. Wyoming Hunger Initiative's partnership with 307 Meat Company, Wyoming Stock Growers Association, and Wyoming Beef Council to provide high-quality, locally raised protein in a portable form is a Wyoming solution to hunger.

After a successful pilot, Beef for Backpacks was expanded statewide to meet the need of weekend food programs in almost every county in Wyoming. This map was developed to showcase the number of beef needed from every county to meet the number of beef sticks required to provide one beef stick per child every weekend throughout the 2023-2024 school year.

So many people came together to make Beef for Backpacks possible in the first year. 307 Meat Company in Laramie has and continues to do all of the processing of the beef donated to this program. Wyoming Stock Growers Association seeks out beef donations to the program through their network. Wyoming Beef Council and Multivac provide all of the labeling for these snack sticks. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming, John P. Ellbogen Foundation, Northrop Grumman, Jonah Bank of Wyoming, Albertsons-Safeway, FunBiz Concessions, Farm Credit Services, and the Catholic Diocese came together to fund this incredible opportunity to get local, high-quality protein in the hands of children across Wyoming.

Fact: 1 beef translates into 2,880 snack stick packages that can serve 80 kids for 36 weeks.

Fact: 5,485 kids are being served through weekend food bag programs around the state which equates to 205,467 snack sticks needed to complete the 2023-2024 school year.

Fact: You can help. Consider donating a beef to Wyoming Hunger Initiative for Beef for Backpacks today!

Wyoming Hunger Initiative hosted the annual Hunger Champions Circle appreciation event on Labor Day weekend with dinner on Friday night at the Governor's Residence and a Cowboy Football game on Saturday. When like-minded folks get together, there is no telling what the future will hold when it comes to food insecurity in Wyoming.

For the third year, Wyoming Hunger Initiative partnered with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming and Ridley's Family Markets to Tackle Hunger at the Wyoming Cowboy Football opening game against Texas Tech. Wyoming stepped up and for the first time, we sold out of the pre-made bags of food that Ridley's prepared thanks to the generosity of so many. Those meals were distributed to local anti-hunger organizations to continue the fight against food insecurity in Wyoming. What's more is that BCBSWY committed to donating $1 for every pound of food donated at the game to Wyoming Hunger Initiative.

Wyoming Hunger Initiative is committed to sustainable solutions to hunger, and our infrastructure grants continue to be one of the most effective tools to achieve this goal. We awarded $193,812 in FY2023 to 54 recipients. This money is organization-changing because it provides the gift of time and efficiency for organizations to stretch their ability to fulfill their mission statements and serve patrons with better and more innovative approaches - based on what those organizations need most.

This funding was made possible because of our Hunger Champions, the Hughes Charitable Foundation, and the many generous contributions from individuals purchasing $5 hearts to display in our annual #heartsforhunger campaign. It's amazing what we can achieve when we come together to solve problems.

Wyoming Together is not just an insurance company's catchy slogan. When BCBSWY claims they're committed to the well-being of everyone in Wyoming, they mean it—Wyoming Hunger Initiative has always invited individuals and organizations to fight food insecurity with their time, their resources, and their innovative thinking; BCBSWY has delivered in big ways on all three counts. For that we are so grateful.

This is Wyoming Together.

A circle is strong, and there's always room for more. We believe deeply in Wyoming solutions to Wyoming challenges. To learn more about Wyoming Hunger Initiative Hunger Champions and to view a list of current Hunger Champions, click here.

First Lady Jennie Gordon, Grand Marshal

As part of Wyoming Hunger Initiative Day, the First Lady was invited to serve as parade Grand Marshal and greet thousands of parade-goers through the streets of downtown Cheyenne as well as in the Grand Entry at the Eighth Rodeo Performance.

This work isn't possible without volunteers!

Two of Wyoming Hunger Initiative's outgoing Regional Directors were recognized at the luncheon held at the Governor's Residence as part of the festivities. Regional Directors were chosen by the First Lady to represent a region based on their awareness of food insecurity or role within their community that is directly related to food insecurity. Regional Directors have been assigned multiple surrounding counties to bring a network together to share ideas and voice concerns that may be solved on a regional level or be elevated to Wyoming Hunger Initiative for statewide coordination. A special thanks to Caitlin Youngquist and Ashley Bright for their service in this capacity. We look forward to their next adventures.

Cowboy Channel Coverage

Between an interview with the First Lady and a broadcast reaching audiences all over the world, Wyoming Hunger Initiative received some major coverage on Saturday. Hunger is too often an invisible problem, and we are committed to changing that. Visibility leads to solutions, and Wyoming Hunger Initiative achieved some serious visibility through this partnership!

Cody Sosebee!

Cody Sosebee is one of the top rodeo clowns in the world; see him in action and you'll know why! He wore his Cowboys Stompin’ Hunger shirt during the rodeo on Saturday, bringing even more visibility to the fight to end hunger in Wyoming. We are grateful for his support, and even though he’s an Arkansas guy by address, we know he’s a Wyoming cowboy at heart.

On the big stage

First Lady Jennie Gordon and Governor Mark Gordon chatted with rodeo announcer Garrett Yerigan during the rodeo about the impact of food insecurity and how it affects families across Wyoming, as well as Wyoming Hunger Initiative's mission to support our state's hunger heroes. We know how important it is to get the word out about this too-often invisible problem, and a few minutes on the stage of the largest outdoor rodeo in the world made for a perfect platform! Wyoming Hunger Initiative is thankful for the willingness of the entire Cheyenne Frontier Days™ team to fight food insecurity. Cowboys really do take care of each other, and Cowboys Stompin' Hunger is just another example of that care in action.

Fun Biz Concessions

We teamed up with Fun Biz Concessions on Wyoming Hunger Initiative Day to sell corn dogs where $1 from each corn dog sold was donated to fight food insecurity in Wyoming. Over 5,000 corn dogs were sold but Nate and his family from Fun Biz Concessions rounded up to an even $10,000 as part of their efforts to make a difference in Wyoming. The check presentation took place during the final rodeo performance.

Alexis Drake Scarf Collaboration

We came together last month to launch the 2023 Cowboys Stompin' Hunger scarf in collaboration with Alexis Drake as we kicked off the 127th Cheyenne Frontier Days™ Celebration. A limited number of scarves were ordered for 2023 with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Wyoming Hunger Initiative efforts statewide. A few scarves are left and available online or at the Alexis Drake storefront this week only. Don't miss an opportunity to have the 2023 design!

Visit https://alexisdrake.com/collections/scarves/products/alexis-drake-wyoming-hunger-initiative-scarf to purchase your scarf today!

Pure Dixie Partnership

We also teamed up with Pure Dixie to offer this patch for any Pure Dixie belt, hat, or purse. For every patch purchased, Pure Dixie will donate $10 to Wyoming Hunger Initiative. We love that everyone is coming together to join the fight against food insecurity.

The Wyoming Hunger Initiative Team

The Wyoming Hunger Initiative team includes Board of Directors, Regional Directors, staff, volunteers, and supporters who work tirelessly throughout the year to carry out the mission of Wyoming Hunger Initiative. Sometimes, though, you just need to have a pre-rodeo cookout in the sunshine to celebrate all that hard work!

We invite you to join the fight and help address the increased need currently being experienced by food pantries and anti-hunger organizations in Wyoming, all of which are facing another wave of high demand for services this summer. No amount is too small—every dollar helps.

Alexis Drake + Wyoming Hunger Initiative Scarf Launch Party

Purchase a stunning Cowboys Stompin' Hunger silk scarf for your favorite fashion-forward cowgirl or cowboy and stomp hunger with every purchase! Cheyenne-based luxury handbag designer Alexis Drake joined forces with us to create a stunning new design for 2023 with 10% of the proceeds benefitting Wyoming Hunger Initiative's efforts to combat food insecurity across Wyoming.

Pictured here is the 2022 design. You will not want to miss the official "Scarf Launch Party" on July 13th where the brand-new design will be unveiled.

NEW Cheyenne Frontier Days™ + Wyoming Hunger Initiative Collaboration T-Shirt

Summer is perfect for sporting your Cowboys Stompin' Hunger t-shirt to raise awareness for the fight against food insecurity at the rodeo. You may have gotten your hands on the inaugural blue and orange design but this year, a new t-shirt will be unveiled. Purchase your new t-shirt at the Cheyenne Frontier Days™ Old West Museum gift store or at any merchandise vendor on the park.

Pure Dixie + Wyoming Hunger Initiative Patch

We have most recently teamed up with Pure Dixie to offer this patch for any Pure Dixie belt, hat, or purse. For every patch purchased, Pure Dixie will donate $10 to Wyoming Hunger Initiative. This is your opportunity to support a wonderful cause and look great doing it!

Visit https://puredixie.com/products/wyoming-hunger-initiative-patch to check out the color options available or stop by the Pure Dixie booth on the park.

We know hunger doesn't stand a chance when we stand together to stomp it out.

Thank you for joining the fight!

Wyoming Hunger Initiative was launched in 2019 with two tenants in mind: one, to never reinvent the wheel and two, to be in all twenty-three Wyoming counties. There are grassroots efforts in every Wyoming county dedicated to reducing hunger and combating food insecurity. Instead, Wyoming Hunger Initiative aims to increase awareness and support for the work of local anti-hunger organizations statewide.

Through the relationships that have been developed across the state specific to food insecurity, Wyoming Hunger Initiative has identified partners in every community. Thanks to a grant from the Hughes Charitable Foundation, Wyoming Hunger Initiative was able to host its first Regional Summit in Natrona County earlier this month to bring folks together who are working in this space.

The result? A whole lot of networking, sharing of resources, and collaboration that will lead Natrona County forward together while also producing realistic action items that are already underway.

The event kicked off with a volunteer recognition celebration where anti-hunger organizations in Natrona County nominated a volunteer from their organization to be recognized. Without the countless volunteers across the county, this work wouldn't be possible.

The following volunteers were recognized at this inaugural event:

• Renee Rodger, Alcova Community Church Food Pantry

• Mark Smith, Helping Hands Community Services at Radius Church

• Larry Baros, Salvation Army Casper Corps

• Greta Hinderliter, Unaccompanied Students Initiative

• Amy Allaire, Wyoming Rescue Mission

• Sid Glanz, Wyoming Rescue Mission

• Brian Bowen, Poverty Resistance

• Susan Stranton, Wyoming Food for Thought Project

• Tracy Padilla, Food Bank of Wyoming

• Nicole Arner, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming

• Carolyn Eaton, Joshua's Storehouse

• Ron Parmely, Joshua's Storehouse

• LeeAnn Miller, Wyoming Food Coalition

• All of the volunteers associated with the City Park Giving Table Food Pantry

We even took the opportunity to honor Dan's Meat Processing, one of our Casper Food from the Field processors, and presented them with the "annual cup" for 2020 for processing the most number of pounds of donated game. As we know, it takes everyone to be on board to fight food insecurity in Wyoming.

The next day we got down to business by taking a hard look at what we can do to improve and expand resources for anti-hunger organizations in Natrona County. Together with sixteen different agencies, we identified challenges, brainstormed solutions, and developed a list of realistic action items.

The following anti-hunger organizations were involved with the first annual Wyoming Hunger Initiative Regional Summit in Natrona County.

• Alcova Community Food Pantry

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming

• Casper Housing Authority

• Cent$ible Nutrition Program

• City Park Church

• Dan's Meat Processing

• Edible Prairie Project

• Food Bank of Wyoming

• Joshua's Storehouse

• Poverty Resistance

• Radius Church

• Salvation Army, Casper Corps

• Unaccompanied Students Initiative

• Wyoming Food Coalition

• Wyoming Food for Thought Project

• Wyoming Rescue Mission

• Wyoming 211

It is safe to say that this group is "all in" when it comes to fighting food insecurity in Wyoming. We look forward to the continued collaboration and the work that will take place in the coming year thanks to the passion and commitment of these organizations.

Lastly, Wyoming Hunger Initiative board members and regional directors traveled to be part of this first-time event. The passion that you see here is what drives the work that Wyoming Hunger Initiative has done and continues to do. Thank you for joining us!

In February, a group of Lingle-Ft. Laramie Schools Student Council representatives visited the Governor's Residence where they shared their goal of raising $500 to pay off some school lunch debt in their community. We responded by challenging them to raise $5,000 and Wyoming Hunger Initiative would match it. Little did we know that by the end of the school year, this community (population 400) would not only raise the amount of money necessary to meet their goal but that they would surpass it.

Through innovative fundraising and community support, it was announced earlier this month that over $11,000 was raised for "Dogger Dollars" to include the $5,000 match from Wyoming Hunger Initiative. To mark the occasion, I visited the Lingle-Ft. Laramie Schools on May 9th where we kicked off the celebration with a pretzel party. Every student in kindergarten through twelfth grade received a free pretzel prior to gathering in the gymnasium for an all-school assembly.

Student Council Vice President Louden Bremer addressed his peers to explain his initial ideas for the project. Together, with his fellow Student Council members, they felt a jolt after visiting the Wyoming Governor's Residence in February and "got to work." "I felt a wave of humility to be a part of something so much bigger than I imagined" stated Bremer. He went on to describe how he and his team raised money through making dinner for parent teacher conferences, selling pretzels and Italian sodas, and holding fundraisers at winter sports games. Although each event brought in significant donations, he noted that the bulk of the donations came in from community members who heard about their story, related to the cause, and simply did not want to see anyone at Lingle-Ft. Laramie go hungry.

Lingle-Ft. Laramie Student Council kept track of the dollars that they were raising and showcased their progress in the form of a bulletin board visible to anyone walking down the hallway.

"Bremer went on to state "I am not sure if enough gratitude can be expressed from myself or the council. Not only thank you from me, but from each individual on our council, and from every elementary, middle, and high school student attending Lingle-Ft. Laramie."

Gratitude was also expressed by multiple members of the Student Council for their advisor Mrs. Estes who encouraged them and was beside them every step of the way.

We are so inspired by the commitment of these students to eliminate school lunch debt while also raising enough to make a donation to their local weekend backpack program, the after school program, and to potentially help off set the cost of lunches on Friday next year.

Together, we can do more!

Photo credit: Cynthia Sheeley, Lingle Guide.

"Wyoming Together” is a motto that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming has adopted and continues to live by as showcased once again with the annual #heartsforhunger partnership with Wyoming Hunger Initiative. If you were in Laramie on Saturday afternoon for the basketball game between University of Wyoming and San Diego State University, you will know that “Wyoming Together” includes the University of Wyoming, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming, and Wyoming Hunger Initiative. Even though the Cowboys came up short in the end, there was no shortage of hearts being purchased to support Wyoming Hunger Initiative Infrastructure Grants for anti-hunger organizations statewide.

Every $5 heart purchased at the game will be displayed with the donor’s name (or the honoree of their choice) at the Wyoming State Capitol through the 2023 legislative session. These small but mighty donations have the power to make a tremendous impact; last year’s campaign brought in enough money to fund four unexpected infrastructure grants to the tune of nearly $20,000. We can do so much more together, proving that Wyoming Together isn’t just a catchy slogan. It’s the Wyoming Way!

The team of volunteers at Saturday’s launch included Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming, Wyoming Congressional Award volunteers, and Wyoming Hunger Initiative board members.

During the first media timeout, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming President and CEO Diane Gore and First Lady Jennie Gordon were presented with a customized basketball hoop and basketball to mark the game sponsorship and their partnership. We are so thankful to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming for sharing their platform to increase awareness about food insecurity and Wyoming and to Governor Mark Gordon for joining us.

First Lady Jennie and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming President and CEO Diane Gore were able to chat more about this valuable partnership and awareness during a halftime interview. Sales of hearts wrapped up after halftime—we’ve got just over 500 hearts from Saturday’s donations alone to hang at the Capitol this week.

We often speak to the power of partnerships and this campaign is no different. In addition to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming pledging to match the first 1,000 hearts sold and leveraging their basketball sponsorship to highlight the #heartsforhunger campaign, many other partners joined the team this year to increase the reach.

The Cheyenne Central High School Shop class built these Wyoming Together hearts that would prove to be durable and reliable for not only the basketball game but for the Wyoming State Capitol, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming locations, and the Governor’s Residence.

Cheyenne Board & Brush stepped up to the plate to ensure that the Wyoming Together logo was proudly displayed on each heart and what’s more is that they donated all of their time and supplies to the cause stating that this was their way to support an incredible cause.

WyoPrint of Cheyenne donated a portion of the t-shirt cost to ensure that all basketball game volunteers could be identified as they sold hearts prior and during the first half of the game. You may have noticed a WyoPrint logo on the sleeves of all of the t-shirts.

Speaking of partnerships, Wyoming Hunger Initiative and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming could not produce the number of hearts necessary for purchase without our friends at the Laramie County Library System. They provide the use of their Ellison machine, which turns colorful cardstock into displayable hearts, three sheets of paper at a time.

Didn't make the game on Saturday? No worries! Click on the hearts above to purchase your heart for $5. For a $25 donation, not only will we display five hearts with your name, but the First Lady will also send a Valentine to the recipient of your choice. Together, our mighty hearts will continue fighting food insecurity by providing support to food pantries statewide and raising awareness for this very real challenge. Thank you to everyone who partnered to make this event possible, purchased a heart, and spread the word about Wyoming Hunger Initiative!

Alexis Drake + Wyoming Hunger Initiative Collab Scarf

Purchase a stunning Cowboys Stompin' Hunger silk scarf for your favorite fashion-forward cowgirl or cowboy and stomp hunger with every purchase! Cheyenne-based luxury handbag designer Alexis Drake joined forces with us to create this stunning scarf (two sizes available) and a portion of the proceeds benefits Wyoming Hunger Initiative's efforts to combat food insecurity across Wyoming.

Purchase your scarf here.

Cheyenne Frontier Days™ + Wyoming Hunger Initiative Collab Hoodie

Summer is perfect for sporting your Cowboys Stompin' Hunger t-shirt to raise awareness for the fight against food insecurity at the rodeo, but we all know winter in Wyoming requires cozy clothes—pick up a hoodie or two to keep warm and spread awareness all winter long!

Purchase your hoodie at the Cheyenne Frontier Days™ Old West Museum gift store or online.

To Your Local Anti-Hunger Organization, With Love

A timeless gift that never goes out of style is a financial gift of support to your local anti-hunger organization or food pantry in honor of a loved one. Sam Tetrault, a writer for the blog Cake, recommends using the following language when making a donation as a gift:

‘I was inspired to donate to X Organization after hearing you talk so much about their work.’

If your inspiration for gifting to a particular charity or organization was because of the words of a loved one, share this. This is especially powerful if it’s a cause your loved one is passionate about.

‘I made a donation to X Organization in your honor. I know how much this cause means to you.’

When in doubt, keep your message simple. If there’s a cause they really love, let them know that you’re making a donation in their honor.

‘I made a donation in your name to X Organization to honor your loved one.’

It’s common to give a donation in honor of someone who is deceased, especially if that person passed of a specific cause. This donation might help bring the bereaved some peace during a difficult time, so an email or letter includes them in this special act of kindness.

Need ideas for organizations in your community? We can help with that! Visit Wyoming Hunger Initiative's County Resource page to find just the right fit in your county. Trust us—it's a thoughtful gift for your loved one, and a game-changer for the receiving organization.

Turn ANY Gift Into a Hunger-Fighting Gift with Amazon Smile!

If you're supplementing your local shopping with Amazon this Christmas like 67% of Americans did in 2021, consider this: by simply navigating to smile.amazon.com and setting your benefiting organization as Wyoming Governors Residence Foundation (the 501(c)(3) that oversees Wyoming Hunger Initiative), every single purchase you make fights food insecurity. Legos? Check. The latest video game console? Check. A watch? A camera? a squeaky dog toy? Check, check, check. It couldn't be easier to do a little extra good this season—and all year long.

We wish you a Merry Christmas, and happy gift-giving!

Thank you.

" We are doers and dreamers, goal-setters and got-your-backers."

—Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming

Wyoming Together is not just an insurance company's catchy slogan. When BCBSWY claims they're committed to the well-being of everyone in Wyoming, they mean it—Wyoming Hunger Initiative has always invited individuals and organizations to fight food insecurity with their time, their resources, and their innovative thinking; BCBSWY has delivered in big ways on all three counts. For that we are so grateful.

In case you missed it, Wyoming Hunger Initiative teamed up with BCBSWY, University of Wyoming, and Ridley's Family Markets in August to hold the second annual Tackle Hunger campaign! While the campaign culminated in a game day food drive at the 2022 football home opener vs. University of Tulsa, a huge amount of effort to collect nonperishable food items at all BCBSWY Member Centers and at Ridley's locations across the state kicked things off.

Ridley's Family Markets jumped at the invitation to get more involved with this year's food drive—they pre-packaged hundreds of bags of food that patrons could buy for $5 a bag to donate. These bags were heavy and generous! Six cans of food, rice, packaged mac and cheese, and more were available and Wyoming communities showed up to purchase them around the state and also on game day

The team at Laramie Interfaith led by Executive Director Josh Watanabe managed the donations on game day, loading a whole bunch of Ridley's bags to distribute to local food pantries. Between First Lady Jennie Gordon and Governor Mark Gordon, some of the Ridley's Family Markets team, and BCBSWY CEO Diane Gore and employee and Tackle Hunger coordinator Maria Klein, there's a whole lot of passion for Wyoming wellness pictured here.

The Wyoming Hunger Initiative Board of Directors works year-round to fight food insecurity and there's a lot of passion pictured here, too.

It was great to see so many family members raising awareness and tackling hunger!

As game sponsor, BCBSWY's President and CEO Diane Gore was presented with a Wyoming football jersey—and First Lady Jennie Gordon was presented with a commemorative football. When is a football not just a football? When it represents Wyoming Together.

Enough food was collected to provide 15,000 meals for Wyoming children, families, seniors, and veterans in need. While every little bit counts, it feels like a good place to point out that this year's total is more than triple of last year's donations, and exceeded our goal by 5,000 meals.

That is Wyoming Together.

Icing on the cake: final score, 40-37 in double OT, Wyoming.

Wyoming Hunger Initiative was fortunate to work with Alexis Drake to create this beautiful exclusive silk scarf (aka wild rag) in the tradition of rodeo scarves from the 1920s and 1930s. A portion of each sale benefits anti-hunger organizations in Wyoming—they sold fast on the park during CFD, but you can still snag one online by visiting the Alexis Drake website!

Want to learn how to tie the perfect wild rag knot? Check out tutorials online, like this one from Riding Warehouse.

We love a good parade and the Grand Parade is one of the best for sharing a big western hello and an invitation to stomp hunger!

The Cheyenne Frontier Days™ General Committee and spouses who weren't in period costume to ride in parade carriages showed up and showed out for Wyoming Hunger Initiative throughout the day.

The Wyoming Hunger Initiative team includes Board of Directors, Regional Directors, staff, volunteers, and supporters who work tirelessly throughout the year to carry out the mission of Wyoming Hunger Initiative. Sometimes, though, you just need to have a pre-rodeo cookout in the sunshine to celebrate all that hard work!

First Lady Jennie Gordon and Governor Mark Gordon chatted with rodeo announcer Garrett Yerigan during the rodeo about the impact of food insecurity and how it affects families across Wyoming, as well as Wyoming Hunger Initiative's mission to support our state's hunger heroes. We know how important it is to get the word out about this too-often invisible problem, and a few minutes on the state of the largest outdoor rodeo in the world made for a perfect platform! Wyoming Hunger Initiative is thankful for the willingness of the entire Cheyenne Frontier Days™ team to fight food insecurity. Cowboys really do take care of each other, and Cowboys Stompin' Hunger is just another example of that care in action.

We invite you to join the fight and help address the increased need currently being experienced by food pantries and anti-hunger organizations in Wyoming, all of which are facing another wave of high demand for services this summer. No amount is too small—every dollar helps.

Partnerships are the lifeblood of Wyoming Hunger Initiative, and we know how crucial they are in the fight against food insecurity in Wyoming! Today we're excited to introduce you to Dan's Meat Processing in Evansville, Wyoming—one of our two charter partner processors for Food from the Field. Their willingness to help navigate the first year of the program is one of the primary reasons Food from the Field was able to experience so much growth and success through its first two seasons, and why it will continue to thrive in the future.

Dan's Meat Processing is owned by Dan and Chris Clark. When they opened for business in 1973, they couldn't have foreseen the growth, success, and accolades their business would receive when they opened their small custom (and part-time!) plant doing mostly seasonal wild game and custom processing for area ranchers. Since that time, they've moved from part-time to full-time, completed numerous additions, enhancements, and renovations, added equipment and innovative ways to serve their community, and created a workplace in which seasonal employees want to return to year after year after year.

They were honored as Wyoming's Outstanding State-Inspected Plant in 1996, an award voted on by Wyoming Department of Agriculture employees—and an award they hold as one of their greatest accomplishments to date. The facility received a Blue Ribbon Award for quality, safe food handling in January 2000 and have maintained that high level of quality ever since. Another award called The Sharpest Cleaver, presented at the Hands Across the Rockies Convention in 2007 honoring their outstanding dedication and service to the meat industry, is also proudly displayed. So is their Food from the Field plaque, presented by First Lady Jennie Gordon for their participation in combating food insecurity in Wyoming. Front and center in their shop right now is the flyer advertising the fundraiser the Clarks are organizing to benefit three Casper high school students burned in a devastating flash fire in March 2022.

It's no surprise that Dan and Chris have a heart for serving their community. They've been doing it for nearly 50 years.

Their operation is an efficient one, developed over decades of learning best practices for handling a high volume of both domestic animals and game. They process 1500-2000 head in a typical hunting season, often with a wait list for those able to hold their animal until it can be received for processing, usually overnight.

Because the facility has multiple coolers and stringent handling protocols, Dan's is able to manage both domestic and wild game through much of the hunting season; this alleviates some of the pressure for domestic processing which continues to be a challenge across the state. Preemptive maintenance has always been a priority, which keeps the equipment ticking along in tip-top shape, limiting possible time lost.

Dan's Meat Processing worked to process and distribute 3,840 lbs of donated game brought to their shop (103.5 animals!) from Wyoming hunters to food pantries and anti-hunger agencies in the first two years of the program. Meat is notoriously expensive to procure for pantries, so a local solution to hunger makes an enormous impact on their ability to provide healthy protein for their patrons.

Wyoming Hunger Initiative is committed to sustainable solutions to hunger, and we know that it takes more than just an idea to achieve lasting change. Dan's Meat Processing—and all of our partner processors—are proof that it can be done, and done well. For that we are so grateful.

Together, we can end hunger in Wyoming.