Coming together is the spark that ignites progress and the fuel that drives success.

When people come together with a shared purpose, differences fade, and strength multiplies. In unity, we find not only power but also the inspiration to keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles. 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.

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 a Regional Summit in Rock Springs earlier this month to bring folks together who are working in this space. Whether in times of celebration or crisis, the strength found in unity serves as a reminder that we are all stronger together.

The event kicked off with a volunteer recognition celebration at The Holiday Inn - Rock Springs (thanks to Liisa Anselmi-Dalton) where anti-hunger organizations in southwest 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:

• Dave Gilman, Loaves and Fishes Community Soup Kitchen - Rock Springs

• Tom and Patty McCulloch, Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Rawlins

• "All Volunteers", Food Bank of Sweetwater County - Rock Springs and Green River

• Kelsee Ficker, Wyoming 2-1-1

• Cyndi Kester, Food Ministries at Sinclair Baptist Church - Sinclair

• Christie Grana, Shoshoni Senior Center - Shoshoni

• CCSSI Advisory Council, Carbon County Senior Services, Inc. - Rawlins

• Tristin Francis, Trona Valley Credit Union Foundation - Rock Springs

• Kim Rinker, Pinedale Food Basket - Pinedale

• Frank Maes, Boys & Girls Club of Sweetwater County - Rock Springs

• Linda McMullin, Thayne Food Bank - Thayne

• McKay Erickson, Afton Food Pantry - Afton

• Pat Leidy, Kemmerer Food Bank - Kemmerer

• Boyd Wallentine, Kemmerer Food Bank - Kemmerer

• Charles Burd, Pushroot Community Garden - Lander

We were joined by local legislators; Representative Cody Wylie, Representative Bob Davis, Representative Pam Thayer, Representative JT Larson, and Representative McKay Erickson to recognize volunteers in southwest 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 southwest Wyoming. Together, we identified challenges, brainstormed solutions, and developed a list of realistic action items.

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

• Afton Food Pantry

• Boys & Girls Club of Sweetwater County

• Bridger Valley Interdenominational Food Pantry

• Carbon County Senior Services, Inc.

• Cent$ible Nutrition Program

• Food Bank of Sweetwater County

• Food Ministries at Sinclair Baptist Church

• Hughes Charitable Foundation

• John P. Ellbogen Foundation

• Kemmerer Food Bank

• Loaves & Fishes Soup Kitchen

• Pinedale Food Basket

• Pushroot Community Garden

• Shoshoni Senior Center

• Society of St. Vincent de Paul

• Sweetwater County School District #2

• Thayne Food Bank

• Trona Valley Credit Union Foundation, Inc.

• Yaha House

• Wyoming Department of Education

• Wyoming Food Coalition

• Wyoming 2-1-1

Unity is the power that turns many voices into one force, creating unstoppable strength and lasting change. A single voice, when rooted in conviction, can move mountains, break barriers, and give rise to movements that shape the future.

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: Lee's Scenes LLC