FAQs

Answers to our most commonly asked questions.

If your question isn’t here, please contact us.

GENERAL

 

A food bank, like Food Bank of Wyoming, is a large, centralized resource that acquires and distributes food and necessities to smaller, direct service-only Hunger Relief Partners, which are food pantries. Many food banks, again like Food Bank of Wyoming, also have programs that directly distribute to those in need. If it’s helpful, you can think of food banks as distribution centers and food pantries as corner stores. The former offers large-scale efficiencies and impact, and partners with the latter to deliver much-needed food and necessities at a hyperlocal level.

We procure food and necessities from a variety of sources, including a robust grocery rescue program, which reduces food waste while providing quality food for people in need. We also receive direct contributions from partners throughout the food industry, from farmers to restaurants. A smaller but still sizeable portion of our food is purchased using donated funds and other means of foundational support. And because we can purchase food in bulk quantities at wholesale prices, we can make that funding go further, providing about the equivalent of three meals for every dollar.

We use this metric as a general way to explain how donated dollars have major purchasing power through Food Bank of Wyoming. 

$1 helps provide three meals thanks to Food Bank of Wyoming’s robust purchasing power, grocery rescue program, federal government allotments, donations, and lower bulk pricing from agricultural and retail partners. 

Ultimately, $1 helps provide 3 meals because of the way we are able to leverage the power of donated food. More than half of our food is donated by retailers, manufacturers, and agricultural partners or funded through government programs. Although there are costs associated even with donated food (i.e. the freight to pick up the food, the cost of running our distribution center, the cost of labor and freight to distribute the food), it’s still an incredibly efficient model. 

While Food Bank of Wyoming currently spends over $120,000/month on purchased food, that food represents a fraction of the food we’re distributing thanks to donated and government-funded food. Additionally, we are purchasing food for much less than what the average person would spend at the grocery store, which helps us stretch donors’ dollars further.

Our two processes for food distribution are through direct services and through Hunger Relief Partners.

Direct services are programs run wholly by Food Bank of Wyoming and our associated teams. These include our Totes of Hope® programs that provide weekend nutrition support for families, delivery of meal boxes for older adults, and much more.

Hunger Relief Partners are locally based relief organizations throughout Wyoming who receive resources through Food Bank of Wyoming. Our partners are the lifeline between Food Bank of Wyoming and communities throughout our state, and we are so proud to currently be partnering with more than 160 organizations.

Everything raised in Wyoming stays in Wyoming. We’re proud of the fact that 96¢ of every single dollar we bring in goes directly into our hunger relief programs. And we have been given a 4-Star rating on Charity Navigator for 11 years running.

We are strident stewards of the funding and support that is so generously provided by our community and partner organizations, and we strive for maximum transparency by offering our financial statements for all to see. 

That’s a question almost as big as the problem of hunger itself. 

In Wyoming, the number of adults estimated to be food insecure in 2020 was 1 in 6. For children it’s 1 in 4. 

One of the biggest recent impacts has obviously been the economic devastation of the pandemic, where we saw need in our region explode by 150%. And recovery from this will be a very long road for so many of our neighbors in need. 

But food insecurity in America was on the rise long before the pandemic, due to an incredibly complex web of factors, from systemic inequalities to infrastructure failings to global economic shifts. 

In 2020, Food Bank of Wyoming helped provide food and necessities to around 99,000 Wyoming residents who were experiencing food insecurity. Their backgrounds and needs are about as varied as you can imagine, from heads of households losing their jobs (or even just hours) to recent graduates finding career paths suddenly closed off. So often, we hear from our clients that they never thought they’d need the kinds of services we provide.

Which is why we will remain diligent and ready to answer the challenge of hunger wherever and whenever it rises. 

All of our clients receive our food and support either through direct programs or one of our more than 160 Hunger Relief Partners. 

VOLUNTEERING

Our volunteer shifts are Tuesday through Friday, 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. Please check the online calendar for additional dates or contact sswierkowski@wyomingfoodbank.org with questions. Please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the beginning of your shift.

You should dress weather appropriate in closed toe shoes (sneakers, work boots) and clothing appropriate for a warehouse workplace setting. No clothing that is overly revealing or suggestive is allowed. Shirts/tops must have a strap over each shoulder and the bottom of shirts/tops must meet or be longer than the top of the pants so that the midriff is not exposed. No halters, tubes or single shoulder strap shirts are allowed. No undergarments may be visible when in normal posture (sitting or standing). No clothing that has a derogatory message or that promotes, suggests, or depicts violence.

Court-ordered volunteers sign up online to get started. We will consider misdemeanor court ordered community service on a case-by-case basis. Please note we are unable to accept court ordered volunteers during our busy seasons of summer and the holidays.

Please register in advance! You can see what shifts are available and get yourself signed up through our website.

All volunteering does occur within our warehouse, so we encourage contacting our office first. We will examine each situation and try to accommodate all to the best of our ability.

Groups of 3 to 20 members can be accommodated.

Please schedule all groups with the volunteer coordinator prior to volunteering.

Yes, creating an account on our online scheduler, the Volunteer Hub, will track service hours electronically and the volunteer coordinator can sign off on appropriate hours completed for school and community service.

There is a counter top for volunteers in the Volunteer Center to place your belongings. We advise you to only bring in what you really need.

Volunteers must be at least 16 years old and have a signed waiver by their guardian for them to participate. Prior authorization is required by the Volunteer Department for all younger volunteers (under the age of 18). We do not offer childcare at any of our sites. All volunteers must have their own Volunteer Profile on our Volunteer Hub and have a reserved spot at a scheduled volunteer opportunity.

Food Bank of Wyoming is committed to a safe, healthy and productive environment. Volunteers are prohibited from possessing, using, being under the influence or selling drugs and alcohol that can alter judgment, as determined in the sole discretion of Food Bank of Wyoming. The possession, use, consumption and/or sale of such substances, including marijuana for either recreational or medicinal purposes, while volunteering for Food Bank of Wyoming will not be tolerated.

EVENTS

A promotion with Food Bank of Wyoming is a mutually beneficial partnership we enter into with another business or organization. Typically, the promotion raises funds as a percentage of purchases from that partner. For example, if someone eats at a restaurant partner, a percentage of their check (like 5%) will be donated to Food Bank of Wyoming.

Thank you for thinking of Food Bank of Wyoming. We would love to know more about your event or promotion idea. Please email us your proposal.

Each invitation is determined on a case-by-case basis. We do ask for adequate lead time for staff planning, with a recommended 15 days advance notice.

Staff and/or volunteer presence at an event is never guaranteed. We recommend requests be made at least 30 days prior to the event and Food Bank of Wyoming participation is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Food Bank of Wyoming accepts gifts of all sizes, $1 helps provide enough food for four meals.

Presence on Food Bank of Wyoming website is never guaranteed and is determined on a case-by-case basis, usually in correlation with venue, frequency of giving, and social media exposure.

Food Bank of Wyoming cannot guarantee social media posts during a campaign. Posts are determined on a case-by-case basis. Usually in direct correlation with venue and social media exposure. Please feel free to tag us @FoodBankWyoming so we have the ability to like and possibly share.

Yes, however, the logo must adhere to our style guidelines, and we must approve any materials that contain our name and/or logo. Approval is done quickly and can be done via email.

Food Bank of Wyoming can provide you with our media release template but cannot send information out on your behalf. We can also provide a quote from senior staff that you can use in your release.

Food Bank of Wyoming does not share media contacts or relationships.

External events and promotions cannot be executed by our staff or volunteers.

Food Bank of Wyoming does not supply any funding for outside events and will not be responsible for any debts incurred.

Food Bank of Wyoming does not have resources in place to act as accountant for outside groups. Bookkeeping should be done by the event/promotion organizers.

Use of the Food Bank of Wyoming tax ID number is provided on a case-by-case basis, following review by the Food Bank of Wyoming Leadership Team.

Food Bank of Wyoming requires verification that the sponsoring organization has adequate insurance coverage and must receive a certificate of insurance that names Food Bank of Wyoming as an additional insured no later than 15 days prior to the event.