Wyoming Hunger Initiative
Wyoming Hunger Initiative has a simple mission: To end childhood hunger in Wyoming.
We believe childhood hunger in Wyoming is a problem that can be solved. We work to prevent food
insecurity by increasing awareness and support for the work of local anti-hunger organizations statewide
and by advocating for a future where no child faces the school day on an empty stomach.
Nourished kids, healthy families, and thriving communities: that’s the goal of the Wyoming Hunger Initiative.
- UNDERSTANDING FOOD INSECURITY
Food insecurity affects 12 million children in the U.S. and about 24,000 children right here in Wyoming. Research has shown that children who suffer from food insecurity—even once in their lifetime—demonstrate poorer overall health 10-15 years later. In addition to health outcomes, food insecurity has an impact on academic achievement, graduation rates, and economic well-being. Wyoming Hunger Initiative knows that childhood hunger is a problem that can be solved, but it must first be understood.
- A STATEWIDE FIGHT
From Casper’s Food for Thought Project to Laramie County’s Friday Food Bag Foundation and scores of grassroots efforts in between, there is no question that Wyoming residents are committed to fighting hunger every day. Wyoming Hunger Initiative seeks to build greater awareness and increase collaboration and participation in the fight against childhood hunger; we envision a day where no Wyoming child experiences food insecurity and the barriers it brings. We are uniquely positioned to affect significant change as an advocate and clearinghouse for existing programs.
- BREAKFAST AFTER THE BELL
Research has shown implementing an alternative service model that moves breakfast into the regular school day is the most successful strategy for schools to increase breakfast participation and in turn, fight hunger. Wyoming Hunger Initiative has partnered with No Kid Hungry to make it easier for school districts to champion the potential of serving breakfast as part of the regular school day, tackle the logistics of implementing Breakfast After the Bell, and create school breakfast challenges to raise awareness for this proven model.
- You just need to know where to look.
- Food Resources in Western Wyoming:
- Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies – Hunger can be found everywhere—often where you least expect it. The homeless population represents only about 10% of our food recipients. The rest? Everyday people like low-wage workers, children, seniors on fixed incomes, and individuals with health issues. We’re working to feed them all.
- Big Horn County:
- Big Horn Basin Adolescent Program
- (307) 568-2222
- St. John’s Lutheran Church
- (307) 548-7127
- Big Horn Basin Adolescent Program
- Fremont County:
- Growing Resilience is a community-based research project designed to bring home gardens to households on the Wind River Reservation in Fremont County, Wyoming and to measure the impact of those gardens on participants’ health. The Growing Resilience project leverages tribal assets of land, family, culture, and community health organizations to develop and evaluate home food gardens as a family-based health promotion intervention to reduce disparities suffered by Native Americans in nearly every measure of health.
- (307) 399-3247
- info@growingresilience.org
- Northern Arapahoe Tribe
- (307) 856-9661
- Native American Heritage Association
- (605) 341-9110
- St. Thomas Episcopal Church
- (307) 455-2313
- Eastern Shoshone Indian Tribe
- (307) 332-3087
- Lander Care & Share Food Bank
- (307) 349-7192
- Lander United Methodist Church
- (307) 332-3188
- Warm Valley Baptist Church
- (307) 856-5949
- Foundations for Nations
- (219) 307-1457
- Fremont County Samaritan Center
- (307) 856-5435
- Riverton Community Food Bank
- (307) 463-0141
- Set Free Ministry
- (307) 463-2095
- Set Free Church – Riverton
- Volunteers of America Northern Rockies, Center of Hope
- (307) 856-9006
- Shoshoni Senior Center, Inc.
- (307) 876-2703
- Growing Resilience is a community-based research project designed to bring home gardens to households on the Wind River Reservation in Fremont County, Wyoming and to measure the impact of those gardens on participants’ health. The Growing Resilience project leverages tribal assets of land, family, culture, and community health organizations to develop and evaluate home food gardens as a family-based health promotion intervention to reduce disparities suffered by Native Americans in nearly every measure of health.
- Hot Springs County:
- Big Horn Enterprises
- (307) 864-2153 ext.17
- People for People Food Program
- (307) 864-3629
- Risen Son Southern Baptist Church
- (307) 864-4036
- Big Horn Enterprises
- Lincoln County:
- Afton Food Pantry
- (307) 887-3663
- Lincoln Self Reliance, Inc.
- (307) 885-1577 ext.213 or (307) 883-2577 ext.213
- Star Valley Senior Citizens Center
- (307) 885-3780
- South Lincoln Human Resources Confederation
- (307) 877-6363
- LaBarge Senior Citizens Association
- (307) 386-2420
- Thayne Community Food Bank
- (307) 880-3663
- Thayne Senior Center
- (307) 883-2678
- Afton Food Pantry
- Park County:
- Food 4 Kids is modeled after the Nationwide BackPack Program that provides food to needy kids on the weekends. Among all three Cody elementary schools, an average of almost 40% of the kids are on free or reduced lunch. On the weekends, many do not have enough to eat. In October 2014, First Presbyterian Church and Christ Episcopal Church began providing bags of food for children to take home Fridays for their weekend meals. This food is easy for them to prepare or is ready to eat.
- FOOD 4 KIDS
- Manna House
- (307) 587-0700
- Big Horn Enterprises
- (307) 754-5101 ext.18
- Powell Valley Loaves & Fishes
- (307) 754-2641
- Sublette County:
- The Community Food Closet, Inc.
- (307) 260-8173
- Southwest Sublette County Pioneers
- (307) 276-3249
- Rendezvous Pointe
- (307) 367-2881 ext.5
- Pinedale Community Food Basket
- (269) 744-0362
- The Community Food Closet, Inc.
- Sweetwater County:
- Food Bank Sweetwater County, Green River
- (307) 382-7332
- Food Bank of Sweetwater County
- Boys & Girls Club of Sweetwater County
- (307) 382-2639
- Food Bank Sweetwater County, Rock Springs
- (307) 382-7332
- Loaves and Fishes Community Soup Kitchen
- (307) 371-1571
- Food Bank Sweetwater County, Green River
- Teton County:
- Hole Food Rescue (HFR) officially launched June 24, 2013, and now has eight daily food donors that set aside the food they can’t sell because of blemishes, approaching expiration dates, general surplus, etc. The food HFR rescues is distributed to local health and human service organizations serving at-risk and socio-economically disadvantaged community members.
- (720) 470-0769
- (307) 201-3010
- INFO@HOLEFOODRESCUE.ORG
- Teton Valley Food Pantry
- Founded in the Fall of 2008, Teton Valley Food Pantry is dedicated to ending hunger for everyone who lives with food insecurity in Teton Valley. We partner with local non-profits, businesses, churches and volunteers to provide safe and free access to healthy food. We encourage individuals to select the foods of their choice from the pantry. We believe in treating all individuals with respect, dignity and compassion.
- Good Samaritan Mission
- The Good Samaritan Mission provides three outreach programs in Teton County, WY which address hunger in our community. The organization provides groceries for 40 families who have been identified as food insecure each week during the school year; additionally, they have a fully stocked food pantry available 24-7 for people in need. Good Samaritan mission also serves a hearty hot breakfast and hot dinner free of charge 365 days a year!
- (307) 733-3165
- Good Samaritan Mission
- Jackson Cupboard
- (307) 690-7764
- The Good Samaritan Mission provides three outreach programs in Teton County, WY which address hunger in our community. The organization provides groceries for 40 families who have been identified as food insecure each week during the school year; additionally, they have a fully stocked food pantry available 24-7 for people in need. Good Samaritan mission also serves a hearty hot breakfast and hot dinner free of charge 365 days a year!
- Washakie County:
- Ten Sleep Senior Center, Inc.
- (307) 366-2210
- Ten Sleep Senior Center, Inc.
- Uinta County:
- Lincoln Self Reliance, Inc., Evanston
- (307) 789-2037
- The Lord’s Storehouse
- (307) 679-2628
- Lincoln Self Reliance, Inc., Evanston
- Hole Food Rescue (HFR) officially launched June 24, 2013, and now has eight daily food donors that set aside the food they can’t sell because of blemishes, approaching expiration dates, general surplus, etc. The food HFR rescues is distributed to local health and human service organizations serving at-risk and socio-economically disadvantaged community members.
- Big Horn County:
- Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies – Hunger can be found everywhere—often where you least expect it. The homeless population represents only about 10% of our food recipients. The rest? Everyday people like low-wage workers, children, seniors on fixed incomes, and individuals with health issues. We’re working to feed them all.
Wyoming Hunger Initiative
5001 Central Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82009 (307) 274-0365