Families get a helping hand

Living in Carbon County is getting more expensive. Housing in the Valley, Rawlins and now even northern Carbon County, which for several decades has been considered cheap for housing, keeps on rising.

In the past couple years food prices have shot up. There are many factors why this has happened but whatever the reasons, some residents are struggling to feed their families.

Fortunately there is some relief to help residents out in these times of uncertainty.

A food pantry opened on July 28 in Medicine Bow.

It is open three days a week: Monday 10 a.m until 1 p.m., Wednesday 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 5 to 7 p.m.

"No requirements," one of the founders, Lucy Schofield said. "All are welcome to come and get food or just look at what we are offering.

The month or so the Medicine Bow Community Food Pantry has been open, it has fed a lot of people.

"Since we have opened, we have assisted 110 families," Schofield said. "It is remarkable. One of the directors of Wyoming Food Bank, who I believe was from Evansville, was in awe of how many people we had served. She said she had never seen a book with so many signatures in such a short time."

The Medicine Bow Community Food Pantry gets donations, then goes to the Wyoming Food Bank with a shopping list.

"There are a lot of things that are free and we don't have to pay for," Schofield said. "But there are some things we have to buy. The hamburger we have now, we have to pay for. Canned goods have to be bought."

Schofielld said she asks families to take only the quantity marked on each shelf. Families can come twice in the month.

"We just want to help people who are in need in the community," Schofield said. "I am very happy to be open. "

The people in her community are happy too if the number of people using it are any indicator.

September is an important month for food banks nationwide. This is the month food distribution centers do their best to spotlight their efforts calling it "Hunger Action Month".

The Hunger Action Month campaign this year highlights the near impossible choices millions of people in America are often forced to make.

"Thus, the Food Bank of Wyoming is doubling down on key initiatives to support Wyoming's communities and Hunger Relief Partners in an effort to raise critical funds so people don't have to choose between basic necessities like food and rent," Stated the Food Bank of Wyoming. "The Food Bank is hosting a month-long fundraiser and additional events to take action against hunger and raise awareness about food insecurity in Wyoming."

On September 9, the Wyoming Food Bank truck came to the town of Hanna.

After Covid-19 the Wyoming Food Bank implemented a new distribution system of food. Prior to the pandemic, when the food truck came to Hanna Recreation Center to distribute the food, the distribution took place inside the gym. Now the system is to drive up and receive food.

Each family receives a box of non-perishable items already packed. Volunteers presort other produce and perishables for the drive up distribution.

With a signed proxy, another family can pick up for others. There is a limit of two families worth of food per vehicle.

Vivian Gonzales, Hanna Town Clerk has been working with the Food Bank of Wyoming since it started coming to Hanna about four years ago.

"I think the numbers have stayed consistent over the years if maybe not rising a little bit," Gonzales said. "People are learning to share and the individualized boxes have helped. There has been more fruits and vegetables recently and you find people sharing them with others when they leave. That is an aspect of the drive thru, because it is first come, first serve and if you get more than you need, please share it."

Jens Christensen, a truck driver for Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies said he has noticed more towns having residents in need.

"It is all over the State," Christensen said. "That is why I am thankful to see the volunteers who give their time to distribute to the families because it would not happen with them. Also Feeding America and Walmart help out a lot. Without them, we would not be able to do this so well."

The volunteer Christensen was referring to is Beth Kostovny.

"It is nice to be able to help people that need the food," Kostovny said. "Everybody is very appreciative of what we do which makes our efforts rewarding."

According to the Food Bank of Wyoming, in the State, one in six children do not know where their next meal will come from and families are struggling under the added weight of historic inflation.

"With partners across the state, Food Bank of Wyoming helps nourish communities by providing food to over 160 Hunger Relief Partners in Wyoming and through their signature programs like Totes of Hope which provides weekend food for kids in rural communities and mobile pantries,"

The Food Bank of Wyoming said. "In 2021, Food Bank of Wyoming and their Hunger Relief Partners distributed enough food for over ten million meals to people in need. With support from those who can give, they can continue to feed the most vulnerable Wyoming communities."

The Food Bank of Wyoming has plans to inspire action for the month of September; raising $25,000 to feed Wyoming residents is one of the ways the Food Bank of Wyoming will be taking part in Hunger Action Month.

The Food Bank of Wyoming encourages those who can donate to the Hunger Action Month Fundraiser to do so.

The donations will be matched dollar for dollar by Powder River Energy Foundation with the support of CoBank and Basin Electric. According to the Food Bank of Wyoming, this matched fundraiser will directly impact people facing food insecurity. For every one dollar given during the campaign, enough food for eight meals will be provided to help Wyomingites who are in need.

"The Food Bank of Wyoming invites individuals and communities across the state to join us in ensuring our neighbors have enough nutritious food to eat," Rachel Bailey, Food Bank of Wyoming's Executive Director, said. "The number of Wyoming households facing food insecurity remains high, so the best way for you to take action during the month of September is to make a financial contribution to the Food Bank of Wyoming. Every dollar remains in the state and 96 cents of every dollar goes directly to our programs."

Besides making donations, the Food Bank of Wyoming has other suggestions to be of service such as volunteering time with the Food Bank of Wyoming, raising attention for people experiencing food insecurity, and creating a virtual food drive.

The Food Bank of Wyoming is the largest hunger-relief organization in Wyoming and provides food and essentials directly to people facing hunger through more than 160 Hunger Relief Partners across the state.

"We've put the power of community to work for our neighbors in need. We serve as the Wyoming Distribution Center of the Food Bank of the Rockies, which is a proud member of the Feeding America network," The Food Bank of Wyoming pointed out. "Everything we do is fueled by the support of our community and donors, and every dollar raised in Wyoming stays in Wyoming."

There is also another model of a food distribution center which does not involve an organization like the Food Bank of Wyoming.

In Saratoga, there is a food bank on Bridge Street which is run by the Platte Valley Ministerial Association (PVMA). The Saratoga Food Pantry is open three days a month: the first Tuesday, second Saturday and fourth Saturday. The Saratoga Food Pantry serves the residents in a different manner than Medicine Bow and Hanna.

"We do have a truck come by sometimes, but we get the bulk of food from donations," Wanda Snell, board member of the PVMA said. "All the churches get together and each church does its share of fundraising and donate food to the food bank. We put it on the shelf and send it out."

Snell mentioned Jennie Gordon has been promoting a "Food from the Field", which has been successful for the pantry.

"We get frozen wild game donated," Snell said. "People around here are just crazy for it and that has been a good shot in the arm. Jenny Gordon has filled a niche for us far as that goes."

Snell said the Saratoga Food Pantry does get monetary donations to buy food. "But we depend a lot on donations. We have a basket at Valley Foods and we get a lot of food every week," Snell said.

The Saratoga Food Pantry never turns anyone away if they come in during those three days, even if a family comes every day it is open. Snell said most families use it only once a month. The Saratoga Food Pantry distributes their food differently from the other food distribution centers.

"We pack a box for a family of one to two and another box for a family of three to four. If a family is bigger, we add boxes to the size of the family," Snell said. "That way everyone is covered. When a box goes out, another one is built."

In comparison of this year to last year, Snell said the families taking boxes has almost doubled.

"It is the economy and people recovering from the effects of Covid," Snell said. "Prices are going up and people on fixed incomes are getting hurt. Seniors are especially hard hit."

Carbon County is a place of community spirit Snell said. "It is uplifting to a community to see people care for each other," Snell said. "People need to know that there is a spirit in Carbon County that people help each other where they can."

Carbon County, like many places in Wyoming and the United States has people in need when trying to feed their families.

It has to be comforting to them, to know there are places and people willing to help them get food. September might be the month of highlighting the need nationwide, but after the month is gone, the need is still there.

These food distribution centers in Carbon County are doing their best to alleviate the chance of hunger hitting a family even if they do so in different ways.

It is good to know they are present.