Feeding Hope, Uniting Communities.

Bringing hunger relief partners together to network and collaborate creates powerful ripple effects—amplifying impact, accelerating innovation, and strengthening the safety net for those in need. By sharing knowledge, resources, and strategies, these partnerships foster a united front against food insecurity, ensuring that no one faces hunger alone. Together, we’re not just feeding people—we’re building stronger, more resilient communities.

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 Buffalo and Ucross 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 Cowboy Carousel where anti-hunger organizations in northeast 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:

• Tina Wood, Crook County Council of Community Services

• Janeen Bissey, Wright Community Assistance

• Wendy Mayer, Gillette Salvation Army

• Story-Banner Community Food Pantry, Angie Gilbert

• Herb and Chris French, Newcastle Totes of Hope

• Sid Parker and Chuck Rinn, Bread of Life Food Pantry

• Elaine Buckmiller, Moorcroft Interfaith Community

• Ronda Jones, Food Bank of Wyoming

• Bruce Kjerstad, The Food Group

• Myong Handley, Sheridan Salvation Army

• Heather Haas, Johnson County Friends Feeding Friends

• Adam Bunker, Wyoming Food Coalition

In addition to our volunteers, we have a wonderful network of folks who support Wyoming Hunger Initiative throughout the year. Food from the Farm + Ranch was created to utilize Wyoming agricultural products to combat food insecurity. Fresh food and sources of high-quality protein are notoriously expensive and difficult to procure for the American food bank system. Wyoming is a state of plenty, and agricultural solutions are a key element to reducing and eliminating hunger. Cody Rea was honored for his continuous donations of beef to hunger relief organizations in Johnson and Sheridan counties.

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 northeast 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 northeast Wyoming.

• Blessings in a Backpack - Gillette

• Bread of Life Food Pantry - Buffalo

• Cent$ible Nutrition Program

• Community Cupboard - Ranchester

• Council of Community Services - Gillette

• Crook County Council of Community Services - Sundance

• Edible Prairie Project - Gillette

• Food Bank of Wyoming

• Gillette Salvation Army

• Hughes Charitable Foundation

• John P. Ellbogen Foundation

• Johnson County Friends Feeding Friends - Buffalo

• Moorcroft Interfaith Community

• Newcastle Totes of Hope

• Sheridan Salvation Army

• Story-Banner Food Pantry

• The Food Group - Sheridan

• The Food Works Group

• The Hub on Smith - Sheridan

• Rooted in Wyoming - Sheridan

• Wright Community Assistance

• Wyoming Department of Education

• Wyoming Department of Family Services

• 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: Lanna Wing Photography