The Wyoming Way: Helping Neighbors, Feeding Families, Strengthening Communities

From young families and grandparents raising grandchildren to caregivers and retirees, Wyomingites across the state are feeling the pressure of rising costs. Food Bank of Wyoming is encouraging communities to come together to ensure everyone has access to nutritious food. 

Wyoming has always been a place where people look out for one another. 

Whether it’s helping a neighbor during a harsh winter, lending a hand during calving season, or showing up when a family faces unexpected hardship, community has long been one of the Cowboy State’s greatest strengths. That spirit still exists today, and it’s making a difference for Wyoming families facing hunger. 

Across the state, hardworking families are feeling the pressure of rising food prices, housing costs, fuel expenses, and medical bills. Many are doing everything right: working, budgeting carefully, cooking at home, and stretching every dollar. Yet for thousands of Wyomingites, making ends meet has become increasingly difficult. 

That’s where Food Bank of Wyoming and its network of more than 160 Hunger Relief Partners step in, helping ensure food is available close to home for families who need a little extra support. 

Just as importantly, Food Bank of Wyoming is committed to keeping dollars in local communities. Whenever possible, Food Bank of Wyoming sources fresh produce and meat from local farms and ranches, helping provide nutritious options for families while strengthening Wyoming communities.

The people turning to food assistance may not fit the stereotypes many imagine when they think about hunger. 

They’re parents raising young children. They’re grandparents raising grandchildren. They’re workers supporting families on a single income. They’re retirees caring for aging parents. They’re neighbors living in all of our communities. 

For Hannah, a Food Bank of Wyoming mobile pantry became an important resource while she was pregnant and raising a growing family. Like many parents, she carefully budgets and plans meals, but rising food costs remain a challenge. 

“Especially fruit,” Hannah said. “I don’t know what it is with kids and fruit, but it doesn’t last.” 

The support means more than bringing food home. 

“It’s definitely an amazing contribution to our community,” she said. “It’s nice because you know that there are so many people who will come around you and help you.” 

For Phil, support from Food Bank of Wyoming helps him care for the next generation. After raising four children, he has now adopted two of his grandchildren. Working as an assistant manager at a gas station, he supports his family on a single income while his wife lives with a disability. 

“Everything is tight,” Phil said. “We don’t do any extra.” 

Fresh fruits, vegetables, and pantry staples help fill the gaps when budgets are stretched to their limits. 

“At times, it’s a lifesaver,” he said. 

Other families face challenges that go beyond food costs alone. 

Nora’s household must balance grocery expenses with regular travel for specialized medical care in Denver. Long drives, fuel costs, and medical needs create additional financial strain. 

“It’s really hard for us,” Nora said. 

The mobile pantry helps ease some of that burden, making it possible to bring food home for children, grandchildren, and other family members who depend on her. 

For Kate, the food she receives helps support a household that includes two young adults working hard to build their futures through nursing school and the skilled trades. She makes the most of every ingredient and shares extra food with others whenever possible. 

“We use everything,” Kate said. 

That practical, neighbor-helping-neighbor mindset is what she values most. 

“It’s the caring and sharing,” she said. “What I can’t use, I’ll share with somebody else.” 

Michael, a retired chef who now helps care for his mother, appreciates being able to bring home fresh fruits and vegetables that allow him to prepare meals for someone he loves. 

“To see that she enjoys it makes me feel good,” Michael said. 

Stories like these remind us that hunger doesn’t discriminate. It affects families in communities large and small across Wyoming. It touches working households, older adults, caregivers, and children. And it is often hidden in plain sight. 

On July 15, Wyomingites have an opportunity to make a difference through WyoGives Day. A gift to Food Bank of Wyoming helps provide nutritious food to families across the state, supports mobile pantry distributions in rural communities, and strengthens local food systems by investing in Wyoming producers. 

In a state known for independence and resilience, helping your neighbor remains one of our proudest traditions. You can make a difference today by making a gift or signing up to volunteer. Thank you!