Our drivers are some of the safest on the road! With 16 organizations under consideration, Food Bank of Wyoming’s drivers were honored by the Wyoming Trucking Association, receiving 1st Place in the Great West Safety Award for outstanding achievement in highway safety in their mileage category.
Each of our drivers is a favorite with the partners they serve, and it’s humbling to know that with just four trucks on the road, these awesome drivers distribute food across all 23 counties in Wyoming six days a week! Last year they traveled over 250,000 miles. Tim Smith, Transportation Supervisor (you may remember him as one of our regular truck drivers from years ago), attributes the award to wonderful drivers who take care in ensuring that food is delivered safely to our communities in need. They know what they do matters, and that is reflected in their safety record!
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Your Partnership
Two heads are better than one and, in many cases, two partners are better than one — especially when they combine resources or share expertise to build better services for clients. So, what does that mean for Food Bank of Wyoming and our 150+ Hunger Relief Partners? Our partnerships are an extension of the adage: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
Building on our mutual respect, common vision, and shared commitment, our partners have manifested positive change across this state. We have seen firsthand how our reliance on strong partnerships has nourished our neighbors facing hunger. Working together we can all scale up, add value, deepen our joint impact, improve the quality of our partnerships, and further live out our our values of service and collaboration through: - A review of how we can work together to save money, time, and effort
- Strategize our work together to expand our reach, influence, and effectiveness
- Define the resources, insights, and skills can we offer one another
- Come to "win-win" situations for all involved
Our team is dedicated to strengthening our partnerships through mutual support. We recognize the unique skills, resources, and knowledge that each of you brings to help nourish Wyoming. That’s why Food Bank of Wyoming is committed to: - Honing communication to ensure partners are provided with the support needed to be successful
- Opening doors for our partners to receive clear and timely responses to their questions
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Providing the level of customer service that exemplifies our values
- Compiling a deeper understanding of community and partner needs
- Reviewing as many potential solutions as possible without diluting effectiveness
Thank you for partnering with us. Food Bank of Wyoming is looking forward to our continued engagement to grow our partnerships and commit to the long-term journey of real, sustainable change. |
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Dates of Interest
July 1 Beginning of Fiscal Year 2024 July 3 Back to our normal ordering schedule July 4 Independence Day; Food Bank of Wyoming is closed July 5 Business as usual
If you have any questions, please contact us at: helpdesk@wyomingfoodbank.org |
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Making the Most Out of Grant Funds |
Does your agency have grant funding to spend on food or household items? Food Bank of Wyoming can be your go-to source for quality, low-cost items to fulfill grant requirements for: - Nutritional snacks for kids
- Culturally responsive items
- Local foods
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Paper goods
- Sanitary supplies
- Other household items
Beyond items available on Agency Express, we also have collaborative purchasing options. Whether your agency is seeking a larger quantity of an item we already have on hand or is developing a plan to stretch every grant dollar, we are here to help.
Grant Writing Workshop: Grant Writing USA Client Services This two-day, online grant writing workshop focuses on how to find funding sources and write winning grant proposals. Beginning and experienced grant writers are encouraged to attend. Online Via Zoom August 10-11, 2023 | 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. PST Click for details |
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Keep Your Toes Covered, Please!
Reminder: For safety reasons, NO open-toed shoes are allowed in or around the Fresh Food Center.
We know that sandals are nice to wear during warm months, so we recommend keeping an extra pair of closed-toed shoes in your car. Please share this important message with your volunteers and staff who frequent the Food Bank for order pickups or to visit the Fresh Food Center. |
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The Farm Bill Watch
The Farm Bill is due to be reauthorized later this year. Check out Feeding America’s Farm Bill Legislation Watch Page, which includes our network’s Farm Bill priorities, fast facts, and an overview of this important legislation. Food Bank of Wyoming continues to engage with our congressional delegation to promote our priorities in the Farm Bill!
Are you interested in sharing why you care about ending hunger with members of the Wyoming legislature? Email Rachel Bailey at rbailey@wyomingfoodbank.org to learn more about opportunities to engage in public policy work! |
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Partner Spotlight - B.R.E.A.D. |
Under the guidance of Mimi Goode, B.R.E.A.D. opened its doors in December 1987 to help anyone who might fall through the cracks of government assistance agencies. Tax-exempt status was received, a board of directors was elected, and local support came pouring in from churches, businesses, organizations, and individuals, most of whom continue their charitable giving to this day.
It wasn't long before more space was needed and B.R.E.A.D. was fortunate enough to acquire space in a former grade-school building. Of course, the more space, the greater the expenses. But not to worry, the need was there and the community responded. B.R.E.A.D. occupies this space to this day.
B.R.E.A.D. is open from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Recently, more families are coming in looking for help. As the current manager for the past five years, Ken Pitlcik shared, “I’ve seen the need that is so often hidden from the public. Not because the public doesn't know the need is there, but because most of our clients are confined to their homes.”
Ken’s team works to understand the situation that draws neighbors to their services and lets clients know that they are welcome, important, and special. “With the increase in client visits, B.R.E.A.D. has seen the need and advantage of upgrading to the computer system that Food Bank of Wyoming provided. This has been a great help when customers check in. It provides a way to keep better track of when and how often they have used our services.”
How it works: When a customer comes in, they sign in on a printed form. This is then entered into the computer system by Ken's team. From this, they can see if this is the first or second time the guest has visited in the last month. (B.R.E.A.D. allows two visits per month.) During a guest’s first visit, they are provided with TEFAP items and can select from donated/purchased items stocked on shelves. On the second visit, they are asked to select only from the shelves that volunteers keep stocked with donated/purchased items. Ken shares that their customers seem very satisfied that they have a choice of selection.
B.R.E.A.D. does not turn any food donations away. Regardless of what people bring in, the volunteers let them know that they are doing their part in helping the less fortunate. The team also weighs items that are brought in and keeps track of who has donated them. Thank you notes are then sent out letting the food donors know their efforts are appreciated. Fortunately, after sorting the donations, the volunteers throw very little away.
B.R.E.A.D. could not operate without its dedicated volunteers who help keep customers happy, stock shelves, vacuum floors, dust and sanitize surfaces, fill TEFAP boxes, and the many other chores that have to be done. It's a job without pay, but what amount of pay can replace hearing someone in need saying to you, Thank You! It’s no wonder that B.R.E.A.D.'s volunteers go about their duties with a smile on their faces!
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Summer Food Transportation Tip Proper temperatures must be maintained for refrigerated and frozen foods while being transported to ensure the highest quality and food safety. Tools to help maintain required temperatures during transportation include insulated blankets, coolers, and refrigerated trucks. - Refrigerators must be kept between 32–40°F
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Freezer temperatures must be at 0°F or below
- Dry temperatures must be at 50–70°F
In addition to keeping temperature logs for refrigerators, freezers, and dry storage areas (see requirements above), the FDA now requires temperature logs for all food that is transported. When Food Bank of Wyoming visits your agency for a partner review, you will be asked to provide copies of these logs.
Food safety is an essential aspect of our business. If you are not currently filling out the required logs, please visit our website for copies. These logs are required to remain in compliance.
It takes a community to feed a community. Thank you for doing your part! |
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Best Practices to Save Food in Pantry Operations - Offer neighbors a choice model (if feasible given space and staffing availability)
- Educate on date labels
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Follow food safety guidelines
- Ask for and follow through on neighbor feedback
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Back-to-School Shopping
If you have back-to-school food distributions in August, remember that those orders will need to be placed soon. Take a look at your order deadlines for delivery/pickup and mark your calendars now. This will save you a lot of stress when August arrives! |
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Food Safety & Civil Rights Recertification |
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All Food Bank of Wyoming staff, all volunteer mobile pantry coordinators, and at least one contact at each of our partner agencies are required to complete the Food Safety and Civil Rights certification courses annually. Partners who have completed these courses any time after April 1, 2023, you are compliant for this year; thank you. |
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Join Our Team
We are currently looking for Wyoming residents who are passionate about serving the food-insecure populations of our state. Want to do good with good people? Food Bank of Wyoming works daily to ignite the power of community to nourish people facing hunger.
If this sounds like the way you would like to spend your day, check out these positions: wyomingfoodbank.org/about/join-our-team |
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No-Charge Meals Coming to Agency Express
Have you heard the news about Meals of Hope? This team is working with corporations across Wyoming to provide meal packets for Food Bank of Wyoming to share with our partners at no cost. Each bag feeds six people and has several different varieties of meal options.
Meals of Hope is all about feeding people, and they work to ensure that the meals they’re packing are of the highest possible quality. They work to source nutritious, non-perishable ingredients from trusted sources and establish long-term partnerships to keep pricing low. Meals of Hope’s goal is to provide nourishing meals that taste good while keeping the meal packing process affordable and accessible to sponsors and hosts so that they can feed as many families as possible.
What a great opportunity for Wyoming groups to come together and nourish our state! |
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This institution is an equal opportunity provider. |
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