This isn’t the first time J.J. King has walked thousands of miles in one stretch. The Jackson, Wyoming, resident and U.S. Navy veteran has completed a number of long-distance hiking treks: the entire Appalachian trail combined with the Ice Age, New England, Tahoe Rim, and Wonderland trails for a total of 3,758 miles; a 1,140-mile section of the Pacific Crest Trail; two traverses of the Grand Canyon and a bicycle ride across the United States totaling 4,646 miles.
However, this hike along the American Discovery Trail — a 3,225-mile journey from the shores of Delaware to the far western edge of Wyoming — is different. This hike is to raise money for Food Bank of Wyoming.
J.J. has been a long-time donor to Food Bank of Wyoming and was a dedicated volunteer for many years at Community Food Share food bank in Boulder, Colorado, when he lived there. He is dedicated to doing his part to make sure no one goes hungry. That’s why for this addition to his long-haul hike list King decided to encourage people to join him on his journey and, along with enjoying his photos and stories, donate money to benefit Food Bank of Wyoming.
From J.J.: “Would you consider donating 1 cent for each mile of my hike? Every dollar raised provides enough for four meals, which means your $32.00 will provide 128 meals to Wyoming neighbors facing hunger. Every donation will be collected directly by Food Bank of Wyoming, and I will not receive any portion of any donation. Please consider donating today on my fundraising page.”
Since starting the hike on April 28, J.J. has walked over 720 miles, from Delaware to Indiana. When he reaches Wyoming, he plans to visit with Food Bank of Wyoming staff and also has ambitions to stop in Cheyenne and visit with the governor about Food Bank of Wyoming, the problem of food insecurity in Wyoming, and what can be done to end hunger for the 1 in 8 Wyomingites and 1 in 6 children in Wyoming facing hunger right now.
Follow J.J. on his journey and consider donating today or on WyoGives Day on Wednesday, July 13. WyoGives is a special day to show Wyoming’s passion for helping its neighbors. Every $1 you donate to Food Bank of Wyoming will help provide enough food for 4 nourishing meals for our neighbors experiencing hunger. Thank you for helping us ignite the power of community to end hunger!