During a recent Food Bank of Wyoming Mobile Pantry distribution at the rodeo grounds in Newcastle, community members waiting patiently in their cars as volunteers filled boxes with fresh produce and positioned pallets of orange juice. Working alongside volunteers, Food Bank of Wyoming’s Director of Development, Olivia McCarthy, emphasized a key distinction in the Food Bank’s mission: “It’s not about feeding, it’s about nourishing.”
While many people associate food pantries and food banks solely with dried or canned goods, Food Bank of Wyoming prioritizes distributing fresh produce to their neighbors, recognizing that true food security includes access to nutritious food.
This can be especially challenging in states like Wyoming, where many residents live in rural locations that have limited access to affordable and fresh food. For some Wyomingites, convenience stores often serve as a primary food source, forcing people to drive long distances (and pay high gas prices) to the nearest larger town for things like fresh produce, meat, and other nutrient-rich options.
Even if a grocery store exists in a smaller, rural community, prices are typically higher compared to bigger city locations and retailers typically carry a narrower selection of fresh items. For neighbors managing conditions like diabetes or heart disease, a lack of reliable, nutrient-dense options can have serious long-term health consequences.
To meet the needs of our rural neighbors, Food Bank of Wyoming distributes food to small food pantries and other Hunger Relief Partners while also delivering food directly to neighbors via mobile pantries, like the one in Newcastle.
One visitor of the Newcastle Mobile Pantry, Elaine, works as a postmaster and is a single mom of two. She said that despite her great job, she often finds her cupboards empty between paychecks. That’s when she turns to the mobile pantry for support.
“In the past two years, prices have gone up so much I can’t make ends meet,” Elaine said, adding that grocery shopping in Newcastle can be hard. “I want to shop local, I want to support them, but I can spend $15 on gas, go to Gillette, and still come home with twice as many groceries.”
Another mobile pantry visitor, Dallas, 83, relied on the Food Bank occasionally to stretch his budget. He shared that life is getting more difficult, especially since he recently had a heart attack. A former rancher, Dallas can no longer afford to buy meat, which is an area the mobile pantry can fill. He added that he shares the food he receives with his 32-year-old son, who has a disability.
JD Williams, representative for House District 2, came to learn and volunteer at Newcastle Mobile Pantry recently. “It reflects Wyoming’s character and the care we have for our neighbors,” he said. “The long line of cars out there is really eye-opening.”
Williams shared that he’s aware that these are not easy times, and everyone is feeling the pinch — especially in rural communities.
What Elaine and Dallas described isn’t uncommon across rural Wyoming. Long distances between communities, limited retail options, and higher transportation costs all drive up the price of food. At the same time, wages haven’t kept pace with rising costs. For many households, the gap between what they earn and what it takes to afford nutritious food continues to widen.
That’s why Food Bank of Wyoming’s Mobile Pantry Program plays such a critical role. By bringing fresh produce, protein, dairy, and other nutritious items directly into communities, we can better support our neighbors who would otherwise need to travel long distances for food or go without nutritious items due to affordability. For many neighbors, these distributions aren’t just occasional support — they’re a consistent, reliable source of nutritious food that relieve financial stress.
In rural Wyoming, hunger doesn’t always mean empty plates. Often, it looks like long drives, tough choices, and quiet sacrifices. Addressing those challenges takes more than food — it takes commitment from all of us to ensure we reach every neighbor, no matter how far off the highway they live.
You can help make a difference today by volunteering or making a financial contribution to support our Wyoming neighbors.
To find food distributions near you, please use our interactive Find Food tool.