April is Volunteer Appreciation Month and a time to recognize the individuals who make Food Bank of Wyoming’s work possible — and to celebrate the community they help build every day.
Across our distribution center, mobile pantry sites, and on the road delivering food to older adults, volunteers show up with dedication, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to helping our neighbors throughout Wyoming. We are so grateful to all our volunteers who choose to spend their valuable time furthering our cause of igniting the power of community to end hunger, and each year select individual volunteers and groups to honor for their gift. Now, meet the 2026 award winners!
Volunteer of the Year: Marianne Henley
Total hours volunteered in 2025: 193
Marianne Henley began volunteering with Food Bank of Wyoming in 2019, and since then has covered every type of shift offered. From packing food boxes to sorting produce and repacking rice, to her most common shift of pulling orders in the distribution center, Marianne is a steadfast and welcoming presence.
“Marianne has truly gone above and beyond when volunteering at Food Bank of Wyoming,” shared Operations Manager of Inventory and Distribution Amanda Koziol. “Four times a week, she comes with such a positive attitude and is ready to do anything that we could throw her way. We truly would not be able to distribute as much food as we do without her.”
Top Hands Award: Cathy Ames
Total hours volunteered in 2025: 245
Since she began volunteering with us in 2023, Cathy Ames has been a driving force in our distribution center, making sure we get all our partner orders ready to go. What started as packing food boxes three years ago has grown into an incredible journey of service for Cathy, who now supports everything from order fulfillment to leading volunteer projects.
“Her dedication and heart for Wyoming neighbors shine through in everything she does, and we are beyond grateful for her impact,” shared Shelly Swierkowski, Food Bank of Wyoming’s Development Manager for Individual Giving.
With her total volunteer hours in 2025 reaching 245, Cathy donated the equivalent of a full-time employee working more than six weeks. What an incredible gift to us and our community!
Large Group of the Year: Renewal by Andersen
Total hours volunteered in 2025: 68
The dedicated Food Bank of Wyoming volunteers from Renewal by Andersen donated their time in 2025 to packing boxes of food to distribute across the state through the Mobile Pantry Program. By bringing nourishing food directly to communities that need it most, mobile pantries serve as a lifeline to thousands of Wyomingites, and volunteers like those from Renewal by Andersen are the driving force behind this work.
“The crew from Renewal by Andersen always bring such positive, upbeat energy when they come to help us pack our mobile pantry boxes! It is always a blast to have them here and we look forward to the time they will spend with us volunteering in 2026,” shared Jessica Osborn, Food Bank of Wyoming’s Community Relations Coordinator.
School Group of the Year: St. Anthony’s
Total hours volunteered in 2025: 52
The energy and enthusiasm brought into the distribution center by the students from St. Anthony’s cannot be understated. Not only are they eager to give back to their community, but they also push the limits via friendly competition. In January 2025, they even set a new record by building 468 mobile pantry food boxes in one shift! We are always thrilled to see St. Anthony’s students sign up for volunteer shifts to help nourish their neighbors.
Family Group of the Year: Browlee Family
Total hours volunteered in 2025: 18
The Browlee family (Alice, Zayden, and Tyler) have been regulars at our Thursday night FRESH Express pallet-build events, helping stack various fresh produce items onto pallets to be delivered throughout the state. This fun, energetic, and raucous group of people, including the Browlees, has been dubbed the “Thursday Night Troubadours” by our team, and always brings good vibes to Thursday nights.
“We can always count on the Browlee family to make it a fun and impactful evening,” shared Richard Plumlee, Food Bank of Wyoming’s Director of Operations. “Our operations team is so thankful for them and all the hard work they put in to making sure our neighbors across the state receive the nourishing fresh produce they need to thrive.”
Therapy Group of the Year: I-REACH 2
Total hours volunteered in 2025: 40+
Twice a week, folks from I-REACH 2 dedicate their time to packing boxes of food to deliver across Wyoming. I-REACH 2 provides innovative, individualized, therapeutic services to adults with developmental disabilities and brain injuries, and prioritizes volunteering for their staff and clients. Every shift, these individuals focus their generosity and compassion onto whatever task they are given, and we are so thankful for how hard they work to help us feed our neighbors.
Community Group of the Year: Casper Rotary Club
Total hours volunteered in 2025: 164
Casper Rotary Club members have been regular volunteers with Food Bank of Wyoming for more than five years now, helping once a month on average to build EverGreen Boxes™ to deliver to older adults living on low incomes. Their dedication and commitment to ensuring our neighbors aged 60+ have the nourishing food they need to thrive is heartwarming and integral to the work we do.
“Everything they pack goes right back out here in Casper. That kind of consistency reflects the Rotary Club members’ commitment to service, and directly supports older adults in their own community.”