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.