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Community Partnerships Make the Difference

Part 2 of Fresh Produce Arrives at the Thayne Community Food Bank

“The mission of the food bank is to get food to patrons who are in need,” said Julie. “We’ve come to recognize that people are in need of food for a whole variety of reasons.”

In part for that reason, the TCFB is open for anyone who needs assistance, no questions asked. To make this possible, the TCFB depends on its community, volunteers, and partnerships to help keep the shelves stocked and the doors open.

“Everything about this food bank is 100% donation of time and money and food,” said Julie. “We have a very close relationship with the owner and the manager of our local valley market and he beats every sale that you’ve ever been to, to support us. Meat comes to us from him as a donation as well.”

To make fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy foods possible, the TCFB and Shelley looked again to their local community as well as to other sources for grants. Together, they applied for and received grants from the Shopko Community Foundation, Farm Credit Services of America, Valley Wide Cooperative, Land O Lakes, and Silver Star Communications. The Farm Credit Services grant purchased the refrigerator while funding from the other sources helped create a budget for purchasing fresh foods as well as other expenses.

Silver Star Communications provided funding as part of their Caring for Community program and has participated in community service projects that benefit the TCFB.

“It’s really important for us that we give back to the community that supports Silver Star,” said Eric Gewiss, Director of Marketing and Public Relations.

This sentiment is shared by many of the partners that give to the TCFB.

 “The one thing that we have really come to learn in Star Valley and in Thayne for this food bank is that we have very, very, generous donators,” said Julie.

Carol added that in addition to donations from grocery stores, donations from the fair can go a long way toward supporting patrons as well. “Just this year we have received a cow, two pigs, and two lambs from the past fair a couple of weeks ago.”

While offering fresh food items is a new project with its own challenges, the strong community support already in place for the TCFB will help this new effort to be successful.

Read more about the Thayne Community Food Bank’s work.

Red grapes in clear bags on a table with zucchini in a red plastic bowl.
Fresh Produce Arrives at the Thayne Community Food Bank (p1)
Squash plants growing out of a mound with a barbwire fence behind and cement blocks around the mound.
New Programs at the TCFB (p3)

* The Cent$ible Nutrition Program is funded by USDA SNAP-Ed and EFNEP. SNAP-Ed assists individuals and families who receive, or are eligible to receive, benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). EFNEP assists families and youth with limited resources  in acquiring the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and changed behaviors necessary for nutritionally sound diets and contributes to their personal development and the improvement of total family diet and nutritional welfare. Visit our Qualify page to learn more. 

This material was funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. This material was funded by USDA’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program-EFNEP. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. The full nondiscrimination statement can be found here. 

Issued in furtherance of extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Kelly Crane, Director, University of Wyoming Extension, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming Extension, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071.

The University of Wyoming is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

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