As the holiday season continues, we want to take a moment to extend our heartfelt gratitude to you for your unwavering support throughout the year. Thanks to your partnership, we have been able to provide nourishing food to tens of thousands of Wyoming families, ensuring that no one in our state goes hungry. 

The holidays are a time of warmth, togetherness, and giving. However, for many of our neighbors, this season can be difficult as they struggle to put food on the table. At Food Bank of Wyoming, we are committed to bringing comfort and nourishment to our neighbors experiencing hunger. By working together, we are making a difference in the lives of children, older adults, and families across the region. 

As we reflect on the impact we have made together, we are inspired by the stories of hope and resilience from the people we help support. Your contributions within your community are more than a meal or box of food — they create a system of hope, stability, and care for our neighbors. Together, we can make this holiday season brighter for everyone in our communities. 

From all of us at Food Bank of Wyoming, we wish you a joyous holiday season filled with love, peace, and happiness. Thank you for bringing hope to those who need it most. 

 Important Dates

  December 20      All staff meeting; Food Bank of Wyoming closed at 10:00 a.m.

  December 25      Christmas Holiday; Food Bank of Wyoming CLOSED*

  January 1           New Year's Day Holiday; Food Bank of Wyoming CLOSED*

 *all truck routes reflect any necessary changes to accommodate this event

Updating Pantry Hours on Vivery

The holidays are just around the corner and we want to make sure your organization has updated any days you will be closed or if you have any special hours for your distributions! You can find your location profile on our Find Food map; click here to check your page: wyomingfoodbank.org/find-food. 

If you have not already claimed your profile, please do. Need your claim link? Contact support@vivery.org.

Have you already claimed your profile? Join a webinar on how to update your hours and other cool features: https://go.vivery.org/quickstartwebinars.

Have you heard of the Growing a Little Extra Community Grant? This grant is presented by Wyoming Hunger Initiative, in partnership with the Cent$ible Nutrition Program and the Master Gardener Program, and is now accepting applications through March 1, 2025. 

This grant was created to put Wyoming agricultural products to use to reduce food insecurity. Wyoming Hunger Initiative is dedicated to growing the amount of local produce donated to individuals, food pantries, and social service agencies across the state. Click here to learn more about this grant and program!

We’re proud to share that Odessa Oldham, Food Sourcing Manager at Food Bank of Wyoming, recently presented at the Wyoming Food Coalition Conference. Odessa spoke about the vital work of Food Bank of Wyoming and highlighted the impact of the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) grant in strengthening local food systems and addressing food insecurity across our state.

To listen back to any of the conference sessions, click here.

Partner Highlight: Afton Food Pantry

The Afton Food Pantry opened in September 2016 when Sierra Mitchell, with little knowledge of food insecurity or running a pantry, noticed local families struggling. Wanting to do more than the one-time food box offered by Afton Town Hall, Mitchell and a group of friends launched Afton Food Pantry with the goal of providing weekly food assistance. Since then, the pantry has served over 34,000 individuals.

The pantry has evolved over time, from pre-made food bins to a drive-thru model during COVID to currently operating a "Patron Choice" model, where clients can choose the foods they want and need. That shift has greatly improved service for the attendees, as they can choose the exact food they need each week. Afton Food Pantry is also working toward greater cultural inclusivity with new translation tools to better assist all neighbors.

Thanks to generous donors, Afton Food Pantry offers a wide variety of perishable, frozen, and fresh products. In addition to regular food assistance, the pantry also provides school supplies, holiday meal boxes, and special items like blankets and stockings. Partnerships with local businesses, such as Marriott and the FFA chapter (which supplies eggs from a new co-op), further support their mission. Food Bank of Wyoming has been an instrumental partner to the pantry, providing an annual mobile pantry, weekly fresh produce, and affordable food options, allowing the pantry to save money and serve more families. These incredible partnerships make it possible for us to continue helping serve neighbors every day!

Inclement Weather Closing Process

As we move into the winter season, please be aware that Food Bank of Wyoming may make closure determinations. We will post closure information on our website, social media pages, and phone messaging system. Please refer to the following guidelines for pick-ups and deliveries:

For Scheduled Fresh Food Center Pick-Ups: Day of Closure

• Partners will be contacted for rescheduling opportunities.

For Scheduled Deliveries: Day of Closure

• Programs team will contact partners about a canceled delivery.
• Deliveries will be rescheduled as soon as the weather permits and per the schedule, as communicated by the Transportation Supervisor.
• Food Bank of Wyoming's Programs team will then communicate the reschedule.
• Please ensure that the necessary accommodations are in place for volunteers and clients to remain safe and warm while attending a distribution.

Do you ever wonder how long a food product can last after its BEST BY date? The FoodKeeper App is the tool for you! In addition to providing insights about a food's viability, it will also help you and your team determine the best way to properly store the items you receive. Feel free to search a specific food and see what information it gives you here!

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Food Bank of Wyoming aspires to meet individuals where they are with the foods they need based on their unique circumstances and culture. We show up for any person experiencing hunger knowing that food insecurity can impact any of us at various points in our lives. Today, we may be packing produce for a person facing an unforeseen health crisis and tomorrow we may be providing a weekend food bag to a child whose caregiver may be struggling to find a well-paying job. The circumstances may be different, but we never waver from our mission of igniting the power of community to nourish people facing hunger.

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