Who doesn't love a yummy bowl of chili when it's cold outside? National Chili Day is Thursday, February 27, and Food Bank of Wyoming will have ingredients available online through Agency Express to order so neighbors can make themselves some chili to enjoy! 

Also, don't forget about Food Bank of Wyoming's partnership with the UW Cent$ible Nutrition Program. With educators across the state, they have nutrition and food preparation education classes and an incredible variety of recipes on their website, including a 10-minute recipe for chili. Check it out HERE! There's even a recipe card you can download to print for a handout.

 Important Dates

  February 17           Presidents' Day

Food Bank of the Rockies and Food Bank of Wyoming's Building Belonging Program helps partners enhance cultural responsiveness and reduce barriers for food pantry users from diverse backgrounds. The program covers community engagement, food preferences, language barriers, accessible services, and trust-building. By completing this training, Food Bank of Wyoming partners have access to a library of resources to support a more inclusive space, as well as monthly lunch and learn presentations.

A recent offering to partners through this program is the community food preference survey, which helps inform you of neighbors' food preferences. After completing the survey, partners will receive a customized report and a $1,000 food credit to purchase culturally responsive food items. Partners can apply for the survey program after completing the 60-minute Building Belonging course, available in English and Spanish on NeoGov.

For more details or questions, contact the CRFI team via email. Click here to learn more about the course!

As spring approaches, Food Bank of Wyoming is working to finalize delivery routes for March through December 2025. The delivery dates and order deadlines for March will remain unchanged. Holiday schedule adjustments for Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas will be highlighted.

If there are any route changes, affected partners will be notified by a member of our Programs Team. Please watch for these updates via email next month! Lastly, starting in 2026, Food Bank of Wyoming will be transitioning from sending schedules every six months to an annual distribution.

Offered by Wyoming Hunger Initiative, the Grow a Little Extra grant was established to leverage Wyoming's agricultural products to help reduce food insecurity. Fresh produce and high-quality protein sources are often costly and hard to obtain for food banks across the U.S. As a state rich in resources, Wyoming has the potential to play a crucial role in addressing hunger.

Wyoming Hunger Initiative aims to provide a local solution to this statewide challenge by partnering with the Cent$ible Nutrition Program and the Master Gardener Program. Click here to view the grant application and apply now. The deadline to apply is March 1!

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federal initiative designed to help low-income individuals, including older adults, by providing emergency food assistance at no cost. Under TEFAP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases a range of nutritious, high-quality foods and distributes them to state agencies. The program is overseen at the federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).

Each state's allocation of food is based on the number of unemployed individuals and folks living below the poverty line within the state. States then distribute the food through local agencies, such as food banks, which in turn provide it to community organizations like food pantries and soup kitchens that directly serve the public. Additionally, food is provided to local organizations, including community action agencies, which distribute it directly to low-income households. These organizations either give out the USDA foods for home use or prepare and serve meals in group settings.

Households are eligible for TEFAP food assistance if their income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. However, there are no income restrictions for individuals seeking meals from soup kitchens, food pantries or homeless shelters. If your organization is interested in learning more about this program, please reach out to our Programs Specialist, Logan Cogdill, via email.

Partner Spotlight: Lincoln Self Reliance

Lincoln Self Reliance, Inc. (LSR) was established to meet the specific needs of individuals living with disabilities in Lincoln County and improve their quality of life. LSR is committed to providing high-quality services with dignity and respect for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Since becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in August 2000, the organization has grown to offer a range of services, including adult day services, 24-hour community living services, community support, supported employment, respite, personal care, companion services, and transportation services throughout Kemmerer/Diamondville, Afton, Thayne, and Evanston.

Lincoln Self Reliance currently provides 24-hour community living services to 28 individuals and serves about 30,660 meals annually. Thanks to donated and/or purchased products from Food Bank of Wyoming, LSR is able to keep food costs affordable for clients who qualify for Wyoming Home and Community-Based Medicaid waivers. These donations have also enabled LSR to provide fresh fruits and vegetables and offer cooking activities where clients learn basic cooking skills and food safety. With their food needs met, LSR clients can engage in employment, access transportation for shopping and medical appointments, and participate in community activities.

Make sure your team is prepared in case a snow storm causes a power outage! Below are a few tips that will help keep your food safe:

1. Monitor Temperatures: Use an appliance thermometer in both the fridge and freezer. Keep the fridge at 40°F or below and the freezer at 0°F or below.
2. 4-Hour Window: A fridge will keep food safe for up to 4 hours. After that, discard perishable foods like meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers.
3. When in Doubt, Throw it Out: Never taste food to check its safety. Use guidelines to assess items individually.
4. Freezer Safety: If the doors stay closed, a full freezer will keep food safe for up to 48 hours; a half-full freezer, 24 hours.
5. Use a Cooler: Transfer food to a cooler with ice or gel packs, keeping it at 40°F or below.
6. Plan Ahead: If a power outage is expected to last longer, obtain dry ice. 50 pounds of dry ice can keep an 18-cubic-foot freezer cold for 2 days.

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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