A recent regional summit in Rock Springs brought together community members, organizations, and leaders from across southwest Wyoming to strengthen efforts in the fight against hunger, County 10 reports.
The event, hosted by First Lady Jennie Gordon’s Wyoming Hunger Initiative in partnership with the Hughes Charitable Foundation, aimed to promote collaboration, share resources, and recognize the dedication of local volunteers who play a critical role in addressing food insecurity.
Launched in 2019, the Wyoming Hunger Initiative is guided by two core principles: to avoid duplicating existing efforts and to support hunger relief in all 23 of Wyoming’s counties. Rather than creating new programs, the Initiative focuses on raising awareness and amplifying the work already being done by grassroots organizations statewide.
“Through the relationships that have been developed across the state specific to food insecurity, Wyoming Hunger Initiative has identified partners in every community, which has resulted in opportunities to network, share resources, and collaborate,” said First Lady Jennie Gordon. “Ultimately, this summit will lead central Wyoming forward together while also producing realistic action items that are already underway.”
The summit began with a volunteer recognition ceremony, where anti-hunger organizations from the region nominated outstanding individuals for their service. Each of these volunteers represents the vital work being carried out in their communities to reduce hunger and support those in need.
Recognized volunteers included:
Dave Gilman, Loaves and Fishes Community Soup Kitchen – Rock Springs
Tom and Patty McCulloch, Society of St. Vincent de Paul – Rawlins
“All Volunteers”, Food Bank of Sweetwater County – Rock Springs and Green River
Kelsee Ficker, Wyoming 2-1-1
Cyndi Kester, Food Ministries at Sinclair Baptist Church – Sinclair
Christie Grana, Shoshoni Senior Center – Shoshoni
CCSSI Advisory Council, Carbon County Senior Services, Inc. – Rawlins
Tristin Francis, Trona Valley Credit Union Foundation – Rock Springs
Kim Rinker, Pinedale Food Basket – Pinedale
Frank Maes, Boys & Girls Club of Sweetwater County – Rock Springs
Linda McMullin, Thayne Food Bank – Thayne
McKay Erickson, Afton Food Pantry – Afton
Pat Leidy, Kemmerer Food Bank – Kemmerer
Boyd Wallentine, Kemmerer Food Bank – Kemmerer
Charles Burd, Pushroot Community Garden – Lander
