Calling all gardeners in HSC

Garden harvest season is almost here and if you find your garden overflowing, the First Lady Jennie Gordon’s Wyoming Hunger Initiative (WHI), the Cent$ible Nutrition Program (CNP), Red Dirt Master Gardeners and the University of Wyoming Extension invite you to donate it.

In April, WHI launched the Grow a Little Extra project with CNP and UW Extension. The project invited local gardeners to grow a little extra this summer to donate to food security agencies in their area. With growing season nearing its end, CNP is excited for donations to begin coming in.

“It is wonderful to see gardeners sharing their bounty with emergency food sites,” said Mindy Meuli, Director of CNP. “We appreciate all of the fresh produce donations. They help to bring more variety and healthy food options to food pantry patrons.”

In Thermopolis, CNP has partnered with The Lazy Fox Artisan Bakery. They have graciously agreed to be a drop off location for us so that any gardener who has excess produce who wishes to donate it can drop off produce at The Lazy Fox, 536 Arapahoe Tuesday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Once we accept the produce, we weigh it and distribute it to local agencies that support neighbors facing food insecurity. Donated produce will be going to agencies in Thermopolis such as People to People, Hot Springs Senior Citizens Center, Hot Springs County DFS, among others.

“We thank all the local gardeners for supporting their community,” said Meuli.

Contact Angela Michel at the UW Washakie County Extension Office, 307-347-3431 or amichel2@uwyo.edu or visit https://www.nohungerwyo.org for more information.