Filling a need

Almost two years ago, the first Friday in March, on the Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies ( WFBOTR) food truck made its first appearance in the town of Hanna to distribute food. It was a very different time, when people lined up close together before entering the Hanna Recreation Center to get their food.

There was fresh fruit, vegetables, dry goods, gluten free bread, desserts, beverages and chicken. Volunteers took what came off the truck and quickly put it on tables with little signs indicating how much of the product was available for each household.

Once a family or person registered at the door, the line moved quickly as products were portioned out to each household. Registration is used to gage how many people are served and if more food is needed on the next distribution.

The driver of the truck then and now is Jens Christensen.

On Friday morning, Christensen was back at the Hanna Recreation Center to unload his truck of food for the Carbon County communities. People come from the northern communities, the Valley and Rawlins to get the free food distributed.

However, it is a different world than when Christensen first came to Hanna.

The pandemic has changed how the WFBOTR distributes food and how much.

"Since mid-March, Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies has seen an entirely new level of food insecurity in our communities," The food bank's website pointed out. "We have provided millions of pounds to thousands of people throughout Colorado and Wyoming."

The non-profit said COVID has changed much.

"We are serving many people who have lost their jobs and are facing food insecurity for the first time," WFBOTR pointed out. " More than 30 percent of the people we're serving report never needing food assistance before this. And families who were already vulnerable have found themselves in dire need. We're distributing 2 million pounds of food a week throughout the region."

The way food was distributed to families was changed last May as the COVID virus started to take many lives.

Nobody was allowed to come into the recreation center and food was distributed to cars. Tables were still set up outside and produce, beverages, meats and a box of dry goods were gathered and put into each vehicle.

One vehicle could pick up for one additional family, if the paperwork was filled out.

Before two volunteers loaded the car, another volunteer opened the doors of the vehicle and, when it was loaded, the same volunteer shut the doors and trunks. All volunteers were in masks and gloves.

No driver left their vehicles.

On Friday, the distribution was still made to cars waiting in line. Instead of tables outside with various products gathered, the dry goods were already boxed while meats and produce were boxed by volunteers inside, and in turn, run out in carts for each car by other volunteers.

The people in the cars had already registered to include how many families they were picking up for so Tina May, who ran Friday's distribution, could take a ticket and call out how many carts should be loaded.

The operation started at 9:30 a.m. and served the last car in line at 11:30 a.m.

On that day, WFBOTR fed 56 children, 105 adults and 57 seniors.

Hanna resident and volunteer Lori Freytag, who worked inside getting the carts ready to go, was happy with the results.

"I think we have gotten more meat than we used to, and it seems like we are able to feed more families than we use to," Freytag said. "It is a good feeling."

Freytag said that she has been a volunteer since the food truck first came to Hanna, like many of the volunteers. She said that is why the operation runs so smoothly.

"A lot of us know what to do, so we can just adjust to any problems that happen," Freytag said. "It is good we have this experience and the volunteers deserve a lot of credit, in addition to The Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies, for all the families it helps."

Linda Goodrich, Hanna resident and volunteer, echoed Freytag's comments.

"It is hard work, but it is great, because you get to help people," Goodrich said. "It is fun to work with all these committed people."

May was happy with how the distribution went this time around although she said there were a few problems.

"In the beginning we had it set up so that I would not have to stand outside in the cold to take everyone's information," May said. "We discovered it didn't work out because there were a few people that tried to take advantage of the operation. I realize, now, it is imperative for a person to be outside to greet the cars and make sure all the information is ready to go."

May said she was a little surprised some people tried to take advantage, but chalked it up to some people's nature of wanting more.

"It is why there must be an authority figure outside," May said.

She had praise for the volunteers.

"I think most of the volunteers have been here long enough that are so well trained, and involved so long, so that there was not any problems with how they did things," May said. "We are still evolving to get more efficient, but today went well."

Beth Kostovny, who assisted May, said she appreciates when people thank the volunteers for their efforts.

May agreed.

"You can really tell from those that are grateful and those who are there for hoarding," May said. "Fortunately, there are more of the former than the latter. This is a small town, so we can tell."

Mark Kostovny agreed that an authority figure was needed outside to keep the lines moving in a timely manner.

He said volunteer John Zrelak, from Sinclair, stayed outside to help the cart loaders get the food into the vehicles and made a big difference in efficiency.

"It is a position that should be always manned if possible," M. Kostovny said.

May was pleased with the results once the operation was done.

"Vivian (Gonzales), who couldn't be here today, has trained us well and I could step in," May said. "I also couldn't have done it without Beth and I think we have a really awesome team."

"Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies can really make a difference to families and it feels great to be a part of it," Christensen said as he was leaving. "This is a job that feels good to do."

The truck comes to the Hanna Recreation Center the second Friday of every other month and food distribution begins at least by 10 a.m.