• Donations filled the valley food banks. 

Faith and Blue honored the work of the Wyoming Highway Patrol Oct. 7 in Star Valley with a dinner and program at the new “Gather on 89”  in Afton.

“Faith and Blue is a nationwide initiative to build stronger, safer communities by bringing churches of all faiths and local law en-forcement together to break barriers and unify communities,” Hailie Merritt event organizer explained.

“This year, our law enforcement agencies and churches chose to host a food drive,” she explained. “When faith, law enforcement, and a community can come together we can all thrive.”

Merritt continued, “I believe this was accomplished, I am also very pleased there will be community members who will have access to food who otherwise wouldn’t.”

Merritt was assisted by several people from throughout Star Valley for the event.

“During the food drive I can’t even count how many people participated; our community literally filled the National Guard Readiness Center.” She added, “During our formal banquet with government and church officials we had 150.”

Trooper Mike Merritt, a panelist during a question-and-answer session at the dinner said, “I have talked to multiple individuals involved and have heard nothing but positive feedback.”

Trooper Merritt concluded, “As a law enforcement officer it was a pleasure and a privilege to be serving our community, side by side as one.”

Faith and Blue Donations

• 17,175 items were donated, labeled, and sorted for the food banks in Star Valley.

• Three elk were donated, totaling 525.7 lbs of meat.

• $6,503.00 was raised in monetary donations.