Basin family among those recognized by First Lady of Wyoming

First Lady Jennie Gordon’s Wyoming Hunger Initiative in partnership with the Hughes Charitable Foundation hosted a regional summit in Cody recently to bring folks together who are working in the space of food insecurity and to honor volunteers. 

Sawyer Triplett, & Lena Triplett are grandchildren of Judy Carswell who is the coordinator of People for People and Backpack programs in Thermopolis. Jennifer Tripplet is Sawyer and Lena’s mom. The Triplett’s volunteer for  the programs and were included for that work in the recognition. 

Wyoming Hunger Initiative was launched in 2019 with two tenants in mind: one, to never reinvent the wheel and two, to be in all twenty-three Wyoming counties. There are grassroots efforts in every Wyoming county dedicated to reducing hunger and combating food insecurity. Instead, Wyoming Hunger Initiative aims to increase awareness and support for the work of local anti-hunger organizations statewide.

“Through the relationships that have been developed across the state specific to food insecurity, Wyoming Hunger Initiative has identified partners in every community which has resulted in opportunities to network, share resources, and collaborate” says First Lady Jennie Gordon. “Ultimately, this summit will lead northern Wyoming forward together while also producing realistic action items that are already underway.”

The event kicked off with a volunteer recognition celebration where anti-hunger organizations in northern Wyoming nominated a volunteer from their organization to be recognized. Without the countless volunteers across the county, this work wouldn’t be possible. 

The following volunteers were recognized at this event:

Ranae Baldes, Terry Anderson, Penny Herdt, Bob Georgius, Paul Carswell, Katie Jones, Brayden Jones, Brycen Jones, Jennie Triplett, Sawyer Triplett, Lena Triplett, Thermopolis People for People Program 

Susan Peck, Lovell Community Food Pantry 

Rebecca Bates, Wyoming Food Coalition 

Bonnie Fisher, Powell St. John’s Food Pantry 

Charlie Wolfe, Cody Cupboard

Chris Galagan, Cody Food 4 Kids

Diane Hensman, Backpack Blessings of Powell 

Dominic Tilghman, Cody Senior Center

Dorothy Gibson, Powell American Legion

Gloria McGonigal and Sandy Tibbs, Washakie County Senior Citizens Center

Janice and Ed Stratman, Cody Mannahouse Food Pantry 

Joyce Tooke, Powell Senior Citizens Center

Leandra Rasmussen, Wyoming 211

Maynard and Sandy Bills, Thermopolis People for People Backpack Program

Rebecca Bates, Wyoming Food Coalition 

Renegade 4-H Club, Worland 

 The summit also honored volunteers and supporters whose dedication sustains programs like Food from the Field, Beef for Backpacks, and Food from the Farm + Ranch. Paintrock Processing of Hyattville was recognized for its long-term contributions, while Pamela Holland, Ron Ostrom, and Randi Hicks were celebrated for providing protein-packed beef sticks to children through Beef for Backpacks. Holland was also acknowledged for donating locally sourced beef to Washakie County School District #1. Ted Blair received recognition for donating meeting space and offering discounts on accommodations and catering, highlighting the vital role of donors in this work. 

It is safe to say that these folks are “all in” when it comes to fighting food insecurity in Wyoming. 

About Wyoming Hunger Initiative 

Wyoming Hunger Initiative is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to finding and supporting Wyoming based solutions to the challenge of food insecurity, which affects approximately 83,000 residents. Originally launched in October 2019 as the official initiative of First Lady Jennie Gordon, Wyoming Hunger Initiative has since grown into an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Today, it continues its mission through collaboration, advocacy, and investment in community-driven efforts across the state. For more information, visit www.nohungerwyo.org. 

For more information, please contact Trista Ostrom, Chief of Staff to First Lady Jennie Gordon trista.ostrom@wyo.gov (307) 274-0365.