January 17, 2023 |
The cupboards at the Platte Valley Food Pantry in Saratoga are almost bare and donations are needed.
The economics of the holiday season was hard on local families, and it left the Food Bank of Wyoming’s Saratoga branch low on just about every kind of food.
Wanda Snell manages the Platte Valley Food Pantry’s volunteers. She said, last month, the number of needy families tripled.
Starting in October, Snell said the food pantry has experienced higher than average numbers of families requesting food assistance. Snell said inflation has caused an unprecedented run on the food bank.
The Platte Valley Food Pantry’s mission is to provide families with a nutritionally balanced selection of food. With the pantry only being open 3 days a month, Snell said it is difficult to distribute perishable items before they expire. She said the food bank is completely out of ground beef.
The food bank relies on donations of food and money to keep the shelves stoked. Through the Wyoming Hunger Initiative, first lady, Jennie Gordon established the Food from the Field program. Snell explained how the program benefits the Saratoga food pantry.
Snell said the conclusion of the hunting season has caused the supply of wild game to cease.
As reported by Bigfoot99 in September, the Platte Valley Food Pantry was also providing needy families vouchers, of up to $10, to Valley Foods. Snell said the supermarket recently stopped honoring the coupons.
Saratoga’s food stockpiles have been especially hard hit. Snell said she believes a recent influx of out-of-state workers has contributed to the food bank’s shortages. She said the Platte Valley Food Pantry does not deny anyone in need.
The Medicine Bow Food Pantry’s founder, Lucinda Schofield, said she is not experiencing the same supply issues as Saratoga. Schofield said, on top of purchasing food from Casper, she receives regular donations.
The Food Bank of Wyoming services the entire state. Schofield invited anyone in need to come to the Medicine Bow Food Pantry at 221 Pine Street, just South of the town hall.
Wanda Snell, of the Platte Valley Food Pantry said donation boxes for non-perishable goods are located around Saratoga, specifically at Valley Foods. If someone wanted to contribute meat, Snell said a volunteer would be available at the Saratoga food bank, at 112 Bridge Avenue, to accept the donation.
The Platte Valley Food Pantry is open on the first Tuesday of the month, from 4 to 5pm, and 10 to 11am on the first and third Saturdays. Call 307-256-2860 to contact a Platte Valley Food Pantry volunteer.
For more information about food panties around the state, go to the Food Bank of Wyoming’s website, at www.wyomingfoodbank.org and click on the Find Food icon.
