Salvation Army Gillette recently moved to a new, larger location, greatly expanding their capacity to serve Gillette area residents. As a critical Hunger Relief Partner in the region, the 5,000 square foot building means the Salvation Army can receive and distribute even more food from Food Bank of Wyoming, increasing their ability to meet demand.
As a Hunger Relief Partner since May 2017, the Salvation Army has worked closely with Food Bank of Wyoming to distribute food to our Wyoming neighbors who are facing hunger in Campbell County. The Salvation Army helps provide meals to individuals and families who may be facing food insecurity and in need of a helping hand.
For some time, Salvation Army Gillette had been outgrowing their previous location which was only 1,600 square feet. Room was quickly running out and they were desperately in need of a space to ensure they can continue to meet the needs of their community. After finding their new building, they now have 5,000 square feet of usable space for food prep, pantry services, clothing, resources, office space, and more.
“We moved in on January 1 st and had about 60 volunteers help us move, paint, renovate, and recreate the space to feel like the Salvation Army. We opened to the community in February. This feels like our forever home,” says Jennifer Nell, Executive Director of Salvation Army Gillette.
The food pantry in the new building is nearly the same size as their entire previous facility. This allows the Salvation Army to increase their impact in the community as well as prioritize their clients’ experience in the following ways:
- Allows for a more personal experience and varied food options. Clients can come in and shop for foods they prefer and meet their dietary needs where previously the Salvation Army had to pack 1,500 generic food boxes. Now they browse and choose various items in the fridges, freezers, and on the shelves.
- Gives space to serve clients inside. Given the limited room in their previous building and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Salvation Army employees served clients by going outside in all kinds of weather to deliver food boxes and items to people in their cars. Now, there’s plenty of room for clients to come inside, shop, chat with staff, use various resources, and have their needs fulfilled holistically and personally – fostering a sense of community.
The new space also impacts the Salvation Army’s relationship with Food Bank of Wyoming. Prior to their new building, the Salvation Army would pack 1,500 generic food boxes with the same items in each box. Now, the large food pantry allows the Salvation Army to purchase a greater variety of food. Instead of buying 1,500 of the same 10-15 items to place in each box, the organization can purchase smaller quantities of more food items to provide choices and a wider variety of food items to their clients. This way, people are in more control of the food they feed themselves and their families.
“It’s so helpful that Food Bank of Wyoming is great at sourcing a variety of food that we now have the capacity to share with our clients. Part of the reason we were able to move to this space is because of our good relationship with Food Bank of Wyoming, and we can continue to be able to serve people in a meaningful way,” says Jennifer.
If you’re in the Gillette area and would like to receive food, the new Salvation Army is located at 209 Stocktrail Avenue. The office is located in the front of the building and the food pantry is on the south side of the building.
Food Bank of Wyoming relies heavily on their 150+ Hunger Relief Partners in all 23 counties in Wyoming to help distribute food. From mobile pantries to local food banks, Hunger Relief Partners are an essential part of providing nourishing meals, food items, and fresh produce to people around the state. Thanks to Hunger Relief Partners fighting hunger in Wyoming like the Salvation Army, Food Bank of Wyoming can continue to distribute over nine million pounds of food each year.
The Gillette Salvation Army provides emergency services to the Gillette and Campbell County communities. Assistance programs include a food pantry, help with rent and utilities, medication vouchers, gas vouchers for medical appointments (with proof), emergency services in times of disaster, and other assistance to low-income families in Campbell County. To learn more about the Salvation Army, visit salvationarmyusa.org/usn.
To learn more about Food Bank of Wyoming or to donate visit wyomingfoodbank.org. We’ve put the power of community to work for our neighbors in need. We serve as the Wyoming Distribution Center of Food Bank of the Rockies, which is a proud member of the Feeding America network. Everything we do is fueled by the support of our community and donors, and every dollar raised in Wyoming stays in Wyoming. For more information, visit wyomingfoodbank.org. To request an interview with Food Bank of Wyoming’s Executive Director, please contact Jessica Stanbury at jes@lumstudio.com.
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