August 30, 2023 |
Photo – Wyoming Hunger Initiative Logo – Courtesy nohungerwyo.org
Wyoming Hunger Initiative spearheaded by First Lady Jennie Gordon has donated $15,000 to fight hunger in Carbon County.
Three Carbon County organizations received grant funding through the First Lady’s Hunger Initiative program. Carbon County Senior Services, Valley Village Childcare, and St. Vincent de Paul all received the maximum grant amount of $5,000 each.
The Wyoming Hunger Initiative was launched in October of 2019. First Lady Gordon said the initiative grants go to existing organizations that help feed people in need.
Wyoming Hunger Initiative grant funding is provided through donations, charitable foundations, and fundraisers. First Lady Gordon said the Hunger Champion’s Circle, a group of philanthropists dedicated to ending hunger, contributed nearly half of the $193,812 raised this year.
The First Lady said a Hughes Charitable Foundation match allowed the Wyoming Hunger Initiative to provide funding to every organization who requested a grant.
Selling Hearts for Hunger was another funding source used by the Wyoming Hunger Initiative to generate grant money. First Lady Gordon said for a minimum donation of $5, people’s names were written on a paper cutout of a heart and displayed at the state capital building. The First Lady said an additional $20,000 in grant money was raised through the Hearts for Hunger campaign.
The Wyoming Hunger Initiative accepts grant applications from organizations that provide food assistance. First Lady Gordon said six regional directors use the applications to make recommendations to the hunger initiative committee. The First Lady said Deanna Trumble, of Lander, handles Carbon County, among other parts of the state.
First Lady Gordon said Trumble makes the area’s charitable organizations aware of the upcoming grant opportunity. The First Lady said a group of five Wyoming Hunger Initiative representatives determine which organizations receive grant funding.
First Lady Gordon said each organization can request a grant of up to $5,000.
The First Lady said hunger is a continuing problem for Wyoming residents. First Lady Gordon said her goal is to inform citizens that most people are one emergency away from not having enough to eat.
First Lady Gordon thanked Carbon County ranchers and hunters for donating meat to local food distribution organizations.
