the Real faces of hunger

What does hunger look like?
It's difficult for many people to understand how prevalent hunger is - especially in what seems to be a good economy.
Casper is one of the fastest growing "metropolitan" areas in the country. Still, hunger is a prevalent issue for 3,000 kids right here in Natrona County. And while there are already some strong hunger relief organizations, there are gaps to be filled.
Gaps in areas like food access, good healthy food accessibility, and even with the amount of hours that food pantries are open.

Wyoming Food for Thought Project exists to address the holes in the hunger safety net. We're delivering 1,800 meals to hungry kids on an average weekend.

We're expanding the number and frequency of farmers markets in our community.

We're building community gardens, and giving out free seeds to people who want to grow their own food.

And more.

Check out this photographic exposition on hunger in America. Because it is right here in our back yard - but together, we CAN make a difference.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/the-faces-behind-americas-food-stamp-program/2014/04/14/f0ff5d14-6693-11e3-8b5b-a77187b716a3_gallery.html#item0

Inch by inch and row by row...

CASPER – This Saturday, the small gravel area under the swing-set at Dallason Park will be transformed. Youth volunteers from the Church of Christ Youth Group will help Wyoming Food for Thought Project, in partnership with Keep Casper Beautiful and the City of Casper Parks Department, transform a little-used part of Dallason Park into a future community garden. The service project takes place from 2pm – 5 pm at Dallason Park, located at Melrose and Burlington Streets.

“We thought that Dallason Park was an ideal place for this project and are proud to be working with Wyoming Food for Thought,” stated Parks division superintendent Dan Coryell.

“Community gardens are a great way to use community spaces and can be a very beautiful addition to green spaces,” stated Keep Casper Beautiful volunteer coordinator Beth Andress.  “Flowers are not the only way to beautify an area-- Wyoming Food for Thought’s edible garden will be a beautiful addition to Dallason Park,” continued Andress.

“One of the biggest concepts we’re working to forward is the idea of locally grown food for everyone in our community. We’re excited to have the City of Casper on our team and hope this project can be the first of many,” explained Jamie Purcell, Executive Director for Wyoming Food for Thought Project.

Wyoming Food for Thought Project is a locally run community non-profit organization working to forward the idea of equitable food access for everyone. This garden concept is based off the “Food is Free” program in Austin, Texas, which forwards the idea that food can be grown for everyone in places like front yards, planter boxes, and community park areas.

To find out more about this or other programs of the Wyoming Food for Thought Project visit www.wyfftp.org or call 307-337-1703.

One thing at a time

The amount of support the community has shown thus far, in regards to the efforts we are putting forth to bring our community Equitable Food Access, is incredible.

We've got supporters coming in to help grow our local movement from far-flung places like Pheonix and Santa Cruz. We've hosted volunteer groups who are just passing, yet want to make a difference in our community, through from Georgia and Florida.

It seems like the movement we are making toward impacting childhood hunger through weekend food bags is growing every day. We are consistently putting out bags that contain fruits/vegetables, whole grains, and 6 meals for $5 a bag.

We were selected by the College National Finals Rodeo to be recipients of a food and funds drive they held during their first evening performance of the finals. With help from the Cowbells, we raised over $700 and a car load of food that was distributed to more than 200 kids that same week.

The groups of volunteers from Reliant Federal Credit Union, Leadership Casper, Urgent Care of Casper, Target, among others, have helped us roll out our vision of equitable food access. 

We've got a passionate gardener volunteer who has made our planter community garden look beautiful and grow like wildfire. And a small group of dedicated volunteers who lead the charge for the weekend food bag stuffing events.

What's next? A whole lot. But it's happening one step at a time:

We stuff weekend food bags the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month starting at 4:00 pm. All are welcome to help.

The Downtown Casper Famers Market will start Tuesday, July 16, on the grounds of the Nicolaysen Art Museum. Food sales start promptly at 5:00 pm. We've got local food vendors, local caterers offering ready-to-eat dinners at the market, local artists, as well as local music, and more.  This will become a year-round market. Accessing good food should not just be a summertime luxury.

We've got great plans in the mix. Stay tuned!

Growing Casper

We live in a community that's 180 degrees different from the one I grew up in. The East Side and West Side have more than doubled what they were, most of the refineries are gone, and the community has become a healthy mecca. With the river trail, mountain, fishing, hunting, bicycling, family-friendly community feel it would be easy to think all is well.  And it is well - but there is still much work to be done.

Food Deserts exist in many parts of our community - meaning that access to a grocery store is more than a mile away.

It has always been difficult - and remains - a challenge to grow food because of the climate.

The "pull yourself up by your boot straps" mentality has marginalized those who need help but aren't asking for it.

So the time has come to make solutions to problems we know exist.

Problem: Kids (over 2,000 in Natrona County) are going hungry.
Solution: Wyoming Food for Thought Project's Weekend Food Bag Program
                      Kids get a free bag of food with 6 meals (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners) including fruits or      
                      veggies, and whole grains.

Problem: Lack of affordable and plentiful locally grown and locally produced food
Solution: Expansion of the Downtown Casper Farmers Market, more community gardens, more vegetables grown in lieu of flowers

Problem: People can access the good fresh produce but what to do with it?
Solution: Partnerships with programs that teach healthy and affordable cooking, and a community kitchen network.

The time has come for Wyoming Food for Thought Project to lead the way. Join us.