Laramie Interfaith hopes to better serve Laramie and Albany County with the groundbreaking of a new facility.
The nonprofit facility located near LaBonte Park on 7th and East Canby streets provides a food pantry and housing to Albany County residents in need.
This new construction project will add an approximately 2,000 square foot expansion to the existing facility.
According to current statements by Executive Director Josh Watanabe, this expansion is planned to help increase the organization’s food storage capabilities.
Both expanded space as well as a walk-in freezer and cooler are planned to help increase the sustainability of the food sharing pantry.
The project has been funded in part by a Community Development Block Grant selected by the Wyoming Business Council.
The grants are funded federally through the Department of Housing and Urban development, and each state receives a certain amount of money.
“Every project has to meet a national objective because the funding is federal,” Julie Kozlowski, Investment Division Director for the Wyoming Business Council, said. “This project met the criteria of benefitting low to moderate income people.”
According to current statistics shared by the Laramie City Council, Albany County currently has one of the highest food insecurity rates in Wyoming.
“We awarded them 500,000 dollars so they could expand their food storage and add a walk-in cooler and freezer,” Kozlowski said.
It is estimated that the project will cost a total of around 700,000 dollars with public donations and other funding.
“Community support is always important. We like to know that it’s a priority for the community, and this project did have a lot of community support,” Kozlowski said.
Community development block grants are competitive and according to Kozlowski, the Laramie Interfaith grant has been in the process of approval for about two years.
The Laramie City Council has partnered with Laramie Interfaith to secure a contractor for the project. The new facility is expected to be completed by June of 2022.
Aside from serving Albany County residents, Laramie Interfaith also partners with the UW food share pantry on campus in Knight Hall.
Any student can use the pantry, which provides a variety of items including produce, canned goods, eggs, dairy products, and toiletries.
“Not everyone can afford to go out and buy food,” junior Spencer Duffy said. “Not everyone even has the means to drive to the grocery store.”
According to Duffy, one of the best parts about the food share pantry at Knight Hall is the convenience.
“It’s nice to just be able to walk over to Knight Hall to get stuff,” Duffy said.
Other partners with the food share pantry include the Sustainability Coalition, ASUW, and the Dean of Students’ office.
The food share pantry as well as Laramie Interfaith are open year-round for students and community members to use.
