CASPER, Wyo. — First Lady Jennie Gordon’s Wyoming Hunger Initiative and the Wyoming Governor’s Residence Foundation have allocated $75,000 to help provide meals this holiday season.
$50,000 was provided in December to anti-hunger nonprofit organizations in each Wyoming county to help provide Christmas meals to hungry people.
“Food pantries and anti-hunger nonprofit organizations across the state are facing a tremendous challenge: because of the increased demand due to COVID-19, there simply aren’t enough resources left to provide Christmas meals to those experiencing the financial effects of the pandemic,” the Wyoming Hunger Initiative said.
$25,000 was also allocated to the “Shop with a Cop” program to give children Christmas meal baskets. The program pairs children recommended by school counselors with members of law enforcement agencies to purchase gifts and household items for their families.
Over 900 children participated in the program this year.
“Wyoming law enforcement officers volunteered at every single mobile food pantry offered this year beginning in March,” First Lady Jennie Gordon said. “They helped with parking, distribution, and safety to ensure that families in every Wyoming county had access to food.”
“Partnering with Shop with a Cop was the perfect way to thank them for their assistance while also supporting their efforts to serve the community this holiday season.”
Wyoming Hunger Initiative said that the funding they allocated was made possible thanks to partnerships with various organizations including:
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming
- Charter
- The John P. Ellbogen Foundation
- Governor Mark Gordon’s salary
- Powering Up Wyoming
- Cigna
- Cheyenne Frontier Days®
- Laramie Jubilee Days
- Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo
- Thermopolis Cowboy Rendezvous
- Sheridan Wyo Rodeo
- Meridian Bank & Trust
- The Wyoming Society of Association Executives,
- private donors
This article originally appeared on Oil City News. Used with permission.
