• Funds distributed by the Wyoming Hunger Initiative
Both the Afton Food Pantry and the Thayne Food Bank are recipients of financial support from the Wyoming Hunger Initiative. The Initiative, led by Wyoming’s First Lady Jennie Gordon, allocated $118,400 statewide this summer to anti-hunger organizations in the form of “unrestricted” funding, which is defined as expenses that may not fit the criteria for infrastructure or food.
“It’s important to me that we continue to provide the framework and foundation for successful collaborations and solutions to hunger statewide which is why the opportunity to provide additional dollars in the form of flexible funding grants was truly a Wyoming solution to a Wyoming challenge” said First Lady Jennie Gordon. “I applaud the John P. Ellbogen Foundation for developing innovative and coherent solutions for anti-hunger organizations statewide.”
The Flexible Funding grant dollars are intended to address one-time or extra costs or expenses facing the organizations. Grants should help organizations meet their missions by solving problems, closing gaps, and otherwise accelerating work and impact in the community. It is important that organizations share a program or operations need and coherently align a solution that requires funds.
“The Afton Food Pantry is excited to have been awarded a “flexible funding” grant by the Wyoming Hunger Initiative. This grant will be used to enhance community awareness and engagement through a targeted marketing and media campaign through the next year,” stated Sierra Mitchell, Director of the Afton Food Pantry. “We want to not only educate the community about local food insecurity but also highlight our services to connect with those in need. We also want to recruit new volunteers and attract donors to support our great cause. This grant will allow us to reach those in need of our services while also raising awareness to help us fight food insecurity here within our community. We are so truly thankful for the donors and supporters who made this grant possible for us.”
Several organizations applied for the inaugural Wyoming Hunger Initiative Flexible Funding Grant and the Initiative is proud to announce that 32 applications were funded. These grant applications were reviewed by a committee that consisted of a Wyoming Governor’s Residence (Wyoming Hunger Initiative) board member, a Wyoming Hunger Initiative Regional Director, a representative from the John P. Ellbogen Foundation, and a graduate student from the University of Wyoming.
