Wyoming Governors Residence Foundation

ENHANCEMENT OF THE WYOMING GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCE AND SUPPORT OF INITIATIVES OF THE FIRST SPOUSE.

ENHANCEMENT OF THE WYOMING GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCE.

WYOMING HUNGER INITIATIVE EXPANDED ITS MISSION IN 2022 TO INCLUDE AN AUDIENCE BEYOND KIDS. WE BELIEVE HUNGER IN WYOMING IS A PROBLEM THAT CAN BE SOLVED. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT WHERE THERE'S A HUNGRY CHILD, A HUNGRY FAMILY, SENIOR, OR VETERAN ISN'T FAR AWAY. WE WORK TO PREVENT FOOD INSECURITY BY INCREASING AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR THE WORK OF LOCAL ANTI-HUNGER ORGANIZATIONS STATEWIDE THROUGH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS THAT CONNECT LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS FUNDING SUPPORT FOR LOCAL SOLUTIONS. NOURISHED KIDS, HEALTHY FAMILIES, AND THRIVING COMMUNITIES: THAT'S THE GOAL OF WYOMING HUNGER INITIATIVE.WYOMING HUNGER INITIATIVE SUPPORTS COMMUNITIES AND ANTI-HUNGER ORGANIZATIONS BY PROVIDING INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS FOR PROJECTS AND EQUIPMENT, AS WELL AS OTHER FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY, SUMMER, AND HOLIDAY MEALS TO SUPPORT THE LONGEVITY OF ANTI-HUNGER ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO FOOD INSECURITY ACROSS THE STATE.FOOD FROM THE FARM + RANCH UTILIZES WYOMING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS TO COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY. THE PROGRAM MEETS TWO CHALLENGES: HOW TO PROVIDE EAGER FARMERS AND RANCHERS WITH A WAY TO HELP THEIR NEIGHBORS IN NEED, AND HOW TO COVER THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THE FOOD BANK SYSTEM CAN AFFORD FOR EXTERNAL SOURCES OF PROTEIN AND THE COST OF PROCESSING IN-STATE FOR HIGH-QUALITY LOCAL PROTEIN. IN ADDITION, COLLABORATING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING EXTENSION, THE CENT$IBLE NUTRITION PROGRAM, AND THE MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM, WYOMING HUNGER INITIATIVE DISTRIBUTED SEEDS TO GARDENERS, AS WELL AS PROVIDED INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS FOR ORGANIZATIONS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN GROWING ADDITIONAL PRODUCE TO DONATE LOCALLY TO ANTI-HUNGER ORGANIZATIONS, UNDER ITS GROW A LITTLE EXTRA CAMPAIGN. WYOMING HUNGER INITIATIVE PARTNERS WITH THE WYOMING GAME & FISH DEPARTMENT, WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND PROCESSORS FROM AROUND THE STATE FOR FOOD FROM THE FIELD. THIS PROGRAM ENABLES HUNTERS TO DONATE THEIR MEAT TO LOCAL PROCESSORS WHO IN TURN WILL PREPARE IT FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, WHERE IT MAY THEN BE DISTRIBUTED TO PEOPLE IN NEED.WYOMING HUNGER INITIATIVE RESPONDED TO THE RISING MEAL DEBT THAT WAS ACCRUED PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC. GIVEN THE FACT THAT MEALS WERE FREE DURING THE 2020-2021 AND 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR, IT WAS THE HOPE OF WYOMING HUNGER INITIATIVE TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS STARTED WITH A CLEAN SLATE FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR WHEN SCHOOL MEALS HAD TO BE PAID FOR AGAIN. THE MEAL DEBT ACROSS THE STATE WAS PAID OFF IN COLLABORATION WITH DONORS INTERESTED IN THIS WORK. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THIS APPROACH FOR DEBT MOVING FORWARD IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS WYOMING.