Opportunities exist to aid local residents in need

Many Wyomingites never worry about where their next meal is coming from or how they will afford a bag of groceries. But for some residents struggling to make ends meet, those concerns are all too real.

Just consider this: From January through September, Powell Valley Loaves and Fishes provided groceries to 2,482 people (making up 734 families). Those figures reflect people who visited the local food pantry repeatedly this year — every month, in some cases.

Faced with increased demand, Loaves and Fishes is struggling to keep up.

That’s where you come in.

On Wednesday night, youth groups and volunteer organizations will go door to door in local neighborhoods, seeking donations for Loaves and Fishes. Whether you give a can of tuna, a box of pasta or $5, each donation helps replenish the shelves so they don’t go bare.

Our community continually proves we care about one another, and this week’s food drive is just another chance to show it.

Another organization also needs your help to provide daily meals and transportation for local seniors. The Powell Senior Citizens Center staff prepare and deliver between 3,000-3,200 lunch meals per month. That includes meals served at the center, at the Rocky Mountain Manor and those delivered to local homes.

The local center shares the plight of many nonprofits in an uncertain economy: funding cuts in state, local and federal aid amid a downturn in donations.

The center has continued to provide nutritious meals at an affordable cost for seniors on limited incomes, but it’s not an easy task.

The community’s support, through volunteering or donations, can help both of these organizations continue to serve hundreds of residents in need.