Wyoming First Lady Jennie Gordon spoke with SVI Media’s Dan Dockstader about the Wyoming Hunger Initiative following a gathering held in Thayne to discuss hunger issues.

(0:00) In honor today, SBI Media with the First Lady of Wyoming, Jenny Gordon, (0:03) the Wyoming Hunger Food Initiative. (0:06) First Lady Gordon, this has grown to be such a big program (0:10) as exemplified tonight in Thane. (0:12) This is a packed house.

(0:14) Your thoughts on how this has grown since you started it? (0:16) Well, it’s just a huge honor to see so many people support their volunteers. (0:21) It is not something I expected to grow this big, but I am so thankful (0:25) that our whole state has come together to support food insecurity. (0:28) And so I think this is just a prime example of communities (0:31) taking care of neighbors in need.

(0:33) Do you sense that as it grew, it picked up momentum (0:36) and all of a sudden people saw an opportunity to take care of those neighbors (0:40) you speak about here tonight? (0:41) Yeah, absolutely. (0:43) Success kind of breeds success. (0:45) And so I think the more people heard and the programs are so Wyoming centric, (0:49) the food program to grow a little extra is really about putting extra seeds (0:52) in your garden when you harvest an animal, when you’re hunting, (0:56) to be able to give the bounty to your neighbors.

(0:57) So I think people really relate to Wyoming solutions to the challenge. (1:02) You could see that you made a difference in individual people’s lives tonight. (1:05) Some of them bought off surprise that they would be honored.

(1:08) They came up, they were holding cares back. (1:10) And your thoughts on how it lifts their life through their service. (1:14) A few thoughts on that.

(1:15) Sure. Well, volunteers are always giving and never expecting to receive. (1:20) So I think sometimes they’re a little bit embarrassed.

(1:22) But I know that it means so much to them because we’ll go to different (1:26) organizations, see the plaques on the wall, and people are so proud (1:29) to be able to to be recognized for that amazing service. (1:33) Not just Star Valley. (1:34) You travel around the state doing this.

(1:36) Maybe an example of some of the experiences you’ve had around the state of Wyoming. (1:41) Sure. Well, one of the most touching experiences that I’ve had is when a school (1:45) counselor told me that a child came home from Christmas break (1:49) and they were acting out and they took the child to the office (1:54) and they found the child didn’t have any food in their house (1:57) for the whole Christmas break.

(1:58) And so he said, I just wanted to come home or back to school (2:01) and get away from home because I could eat. (2:03) So knowing that this happens in our state, we just have to really think (2:07) about those kiddos and those families and support them. (2:11) Closing thoughts, the Wyoming Food Initiative and your work over all this time (2:14) as we kind of see the incoming, but you still have a lot to do with it.

(2:19) Some closing thoughts on a great program for the state of Wyoming. (2:22) Well, it’s been an honor and the highest privilege of my life to serve the state. (2:27) I had not anticipated I would ever be in this position.

(2:30) But when you have an opportunity to give back to your community and your state, (2:34) I think you should take it. (2:35) So we will continue this work. (2:37) I won’t be in this position, but we will continue the work.

(2:40) Wyoming First Lady Jenny Gordon, Dan Doxson, RSBI Media and Thing.