The number of people in Wyoming who don't know where their next meal will come from is on the rise, according to new U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

Rachel Bailey - executive director of the Food Bank of Wyoming - said organizations like hers are also facing higher food costs as they work to ensure neighbors in need can access nourishing food during the winter holidays, and beyond.

Donations of canned foods are always welcomed, but Bailey said the best way to help is to make a financial contribution.

"The Food Bank of Wyoming is set up so that we can take $1 and we can make that equal three meals," said Bailey. "So that's why if you can give financially, this is a really good time of year to do it."

The end of COVID-era assistance programs, like boosts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) benefits and the refundable Child Tax Credit, has put more families at risk of hunger.

Proponents of ending the programs warned that they discouraged people from re-entering the workforce.

But this concern was unwarranted - according to researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Chicago, who found the programs did not impact workforce participation.

Bailey said most Wyomingites have had life events disrupt their budget - an unexpected medical bill, a car breaks down, a kid gets sick and you have to miss work.

Working with community pantries and other partners across the state, Bailey said the Food Bank is there to help families make it through those tough times.

"Most of the people that we see, they have jobs - they are very hard working," said Bailey. "They have worked their whole life, and they just need some additional assistance."

Contributions to food banks tend to drop after the holidays.

But Bailey said it's important for those who can help to stay involved, especially during winter months when volunteers work to get food to older residents who find it hard to leave their homes.

"Families and individuals are hungry all year round, not just during the holiday season," said Bailey. "Definitely when January and February rolls around, we need to have additional support."




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It is nearly summer, and time to go to bat for those struggling with hunger in New Mexico.

This Saturday, letter carriers with the U.S. Postal Service will collect nonperishable food items on the doorsteps of customers as part of "Stamp Out Hunger," the nation's largest one-day food drive.

Marie Montano, a letter carrier and member of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 504 in Albuquerque, participates each year because she said it is a chance to give back to the community.

"The end of April, I start talking about it to my customers, letting my customers know," Montano explained. "Every little bit counts. One day alone, at one station, we get close to about 500 pounds per carrier."

Feeding America's 2023 "Map the Meal Gap" study found one in five children and one in seven people overall are at risk of hunger in New Mexico.

Those who want to help can fill a sturdy bag or box with nonperishable food and leave it next to their mailbox on Saturday before their usual mail delivery.

The drive in Albuquerque will benefit Roadrunner Food Bank, which distributes food within the city and also statewide.

Sonya Warwick, director of communications and events for the food bank, knows there is a significant need right now, because more people are showing up at distribution sites.

"It's one of the largest food drives that happens all across the country," Warwick pointed out. "Going into the summer months is very critical food for us, given that we do see hunger spike with little kiddos out of school and they may not have access to those free and reduced (price) meals that they typically would get at school."

In addition to Roadrunner, food banks in other parts of the state including Santa Fe and Artesia are participating. Warwick emphasized New Mexico's food banks are always working to close the state's meal gap.

"It can be difficult simply because there are so many communities across the state who have so much need, particularly rural communities in our state," Warwick stressed. "They tend to see much larger hunger rates especially among the most vulnerable, like children."

For those who cannot participate, Warwick added a monetary donation is always helpful because it allows Roadrunner to purchase food in categories not donated as often.

A new program in Indiana will ensure year-round access to nutritious meals for students statewide.

The Summer Electronic Transfer program provides a one-time $120 payment for school-aged children on an EBT card. The card can be used at grocery stores, farmers markets and other retailers.

Emily Weikert Bryant, executive director of Feeding Indiana's Hungry, said history shows programs such as SUN Bucks are effective.

"What we learned from the pandemic is that when we provide benefits like this, allowing families to pickup on behalf of their children made a tremendous difference in reducing food insecurity amongst kids during the pandemic," Weikert Bryant observed. "Particularly during the summer."

Local schools will discuss eligibility with parents and families. Additionally, free meals are available at SUN Meals sites throughout communities. Funding for the initiative is provided by the state and the U-S-D-A.

Weikert Bryant said SUN Bucks serves as a crucial lifeline, ensuring no child goes hungry during the summer months. The program reflects Indiana's commitment to fostering the well-being of Hoosier kids, ensuring they receive nutritious meals to thrive personally and academically. She described who qualifies.

"Children are eligible for the program if the household already participates in SNAP, TANF -- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families -- or income-based Medicaid," Weikert Bryant outlined. "Or if the student has been identified as a ward of the state; a foster child, homeless or migrant."

Those children will automatically receive benefits. Families who do not qualify for those programs but have children who receive free and reduced priced meals need to apply for the program. The application deadline is May 1.


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Alabama is one of 14 states opting out of the 2024 summer electronic benefit program.

As summer rolls around, there will be no programs in place to help low-income families with grocery costs.

LaTrell Clifford Wood, hunger policy advocate for the group Alabama Arise, said as a result, more than 500,000 children who usually receive free or reduced lunch could go without meals. She noted while summer feeding programs will be available, they will not reach everyone in need.

"Ninety-four percent of Alabama children who rely on free and reduced-price meals won't have access to them over the summer," Clifford Wood reported. "That means that only 6% of the children who rely on those meals during the school year are going to be fed through summer feeding programs."

Clifford Wood warned limited hours, transportation and strict program rules will hinder many families from benefiting from such vital programs. The Alabama Legislature did not allocate the necessary $15 million for the program by the end of the last session. However, Clifford Wood noted there is a chance the program will be funded in the summer of 2025.

As legislators focus on next year's budgets, Clifford Wood stressed the need for funding next summer's EBT program. She pointed out Alabama Arise is calling for lawmakers to allocate funds from the Education Trust Fund to combat child hunger, affecting one in four children in the state.

"This is a program that's been tested for 13 years," Clifford Wood emphasized. "It's had three rigorous evaluation periods, and it was shown to improve the diet of children and decrease children's food hardship by a third."

Clifford Wood believes prioritizing children's needs and addressing food insecurity is a form of preventive care and serves as an early investment in the state's overall wellness.

The Food Research and Action Center said funding the e-benefits program would also benefit the economy - adding anywhere from $98 million to $117 million. The Alabama Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee is expected to vote on the budget next week.