Food insecurity hits Valley

Food insecurity has become a very real problem in the upper North Platte Valley. The Saratoga  Food Pantry, a ministry of the Platte Valley Ministerial Association, provides food for  individuals and families in need.  

Wanda Snell, Food Pantry Chair, said, “The Food Pantry served 124 individuals and families in  2020 and 130 families and individuals in 2021. Between January 1st and February 11th this year, we have served 43 individuals and families.”

“Since September, we have seen a steady increase in the number of families who have needed food for their families,” said The Rev. Peggy  Hotchkiss, priest of St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church and a Food Pantry volunteer. 

With the increasing cost of food and frequent unemployment due to COVID, many families are  experiencing food insecurity. Said Wanda Snell, “Rising food and energy costs have especially  impacted those who live on social security or on other sources of fixed income. The pantry has  been assisting more young families and a greater number of large families than in the past.” As a consequence, the pantry shelves are emptying at an alarmingly rapid pace.  

Wanda Snell said current needs at the Food Pantry are canned beans (pinto, black, and  kidney are the most popular), Hamburger Helper, pasta sauce, canned diced tomatoes, canned  fruit, jam and jelly, peanut butter, canned meat (chicken, tuna, ham), and snacks (cookies,  granola bars, Jell-O, pudding). Food Pantry volunteers also welcome donations of frozen,  commercially processed game and other meat (beef, pork, lamb, chicken, turkey).  

Pastor Gene Smith of the Platte Valley Assembly of God Church and President of the Ministerial  Association reminds donors that the pantry cannot accept food that has exceeded the ‘use by’  date.  

The Saratoga Food Pantry is open the first Tuesday of each month from 4:00-5:30 p.m. and the  second and fourth Saturdays of the month from 10:00-11:30 a.m. The Pantry is located at 112 E.  Bridge, Suite E.  

Donations of food can be placed in the basket by the entrance of Valley Foods, left in the back  pew of St. Barnabas’ Church, or given to the pastor of any church in the valley.  

Monetary donations can be mailed to the Platte Valley Ministerial Association, P.O. Box 1113,  Saratoga, Wyoming 82331 with ‘Food Pantry’ noted on the memo line. Those wishing to donate frozen meat may call Pastor Gene Smith at 307-326-5520, or any pastor in the valley, to arrange  a time to take the meat to the pantry’s freezers. 

The Ministerial Association also provides funds for travelers who need assistance with lodging  or gas expenses. Recently, one of the biggest needs has been providing assistance to families  who are unable to pay housing or utility expenses. Donations for those funds also are welcomed.