Food boon

The Hanna Recreation Center played host to the public for people to get free food for the first time in Hanna. The Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies truck got to Hanna at around 7:30 a.m. on Friday. Vivian Gonzales, Hanna Recreation Center director had asked volunteers to come around that time earlier. In less than a hour, the truck was unloaded and the volunteers had the distribution of the food ready to go.

There was a line forming at 9 a.m., so Gonzales decided to open the doors since they were ready to go.

This was one reason the operation went smoothly. Another was having student volunteers from the local Future Farmers of America (FFA) and other high school groups, including the girl scouts, get the groceries out the cars. It began to snow at 10 a.m. and the parking lot was getting slippery.

"I had plenty of the school kids here and wanted them to help people to their cars," Gonzales said. "We had carts available and we tried to think of anything that would make the operation run smoothly."

She said there were volunteers from Medicine Bow that had worked on the food truck operation when it came to their town.

Gonzales gave credit to the Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies truck driver. Curtis Lee has been driving the food truck to Medicine Bow for the past year.

"This is a little bigger area and this place had all their volunteers together and boom, it was done and ready for the customers," Lee said. "I think it is great how all these people donate their time to help their communities. I think it is fantastic."

Gonzales said the monthly truck will alternate going to Medicine Bow and Hanna. She said later, Elk Mountain might be included on the circuit.

"We want to make the effort to get the food truck throughout all the northern communities," Gonzales said. "Saying that, we welcome all people from Carbon County communities."

Visitors signed in. Bags, boxes and even pallets were given out to fill up with various food. Fresh produce such as apples, broccoli, cherry tomatoes and jalapeños were available. A box of chicken, boxes of frozen tacos and bacon were the proteins given out. There were canned goods, dry goods and some toiletries offered.

The Tippman Group, who own the Medicine Bow River Ranch sponsor the mobile unit, because they realize the struggles some people have living in a small, remote community.

A patron leaving said, "This is such a good thing. When you see children with a mother going through the line with the excitement the kids show at getting something they like, it warms your soul."

Mina Myers, a student volunteer said having enough volunteers was key.

"When you have the resources in the community, you should use them," Myers said. "This rec center has been the key element for a lot of things and I bet if we analyzed it more and use it more, a lot more things would get done faster and better. A lot more people would be involved in the community if we had the resources to use the rec center to its fullest potential."

Many people leaving the Hanna Recreation Center were happy at how well the operation went and said the rec center had been an ideal location to have the mobile pantry.

Traci Fowler, Hanna council member was outside in the parking lot directing traffic.

"It went beautifully," Fowler said. "We had a great turn out and everybody was helpful; it just turned out great."

Basil Phillips and Dylan Romero were two students that met people at the end of the food line to help them out to their vehicles.

"Vivian asked us if we would help and we said yes," Phillips said. "It feels good doing this."

"It feels real good," chimed in Romero. "I'll be here next time we do it."

The Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies mobile pantry destination will be Medicine Bow next month.