Therapy Horse Instructor, Jewelry Designer, and Food Insecurity: Meet Vern

There are some things that connect us all as human beings, and the need for food is one of them. Regardless of age, origin, address, race, gender or societal status: we all need to eat.

Across Wyoming, one in seven neighbors currently faces food insecurity. What’s even more alarming is that one in five children in Wyoming are food insecure. We all face a job loss, health crisis, or uncontrollable circumstance due to not having enough to eat regularly. That’s why the Wyoming Food Bank strives to reach every community member in our state who needs food. No matter where they live or what their current life looks like, we will be there for them by providing them with the food they need – which we all need.

This is one of the neighbors we had the honor of meeting recently across the state. He represents a small fraction of the more than 83,700 people in Wyoming — more than 14 percent of the total population — who experience food insecurity. With your generous support in the form of monetary or volunteer donations, we can ensure that no one in Wyoming goes without food.

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Meet Vern:

Vern is 80 years old, and every month picks up food for a neighbor at the Wyoming Food Bank mobile pantry closest to the assisted living community he now calls home.

“There is a lady raising four children who needs help. The Food Bank is a fabulous program. This helps a lot of people who really need help. It really is. And, you know, I know that for a fact. I see it,” Vern shared.

He also receives food for himself, but said: “I’m 80 years old, I don’t eat much. A little jerky from time to time.

Vern grew up in Wyoming on the Mule Shoe Ranch and was the first male child in his family to graduate from high school. After high school, he served as a parachute fitter in the United States Navy. He is passionate about ranching and horses and loved participating in the rodeo throughout his childhood and young adult life. “There’s nothing better than getting on a horse that’s really moving, riding him, dismounting and stroking his neck,” he recalls.

Vern is also a licensed therapeutic equestrian instructor, working with children with disabilities. Her other hobbies include jewelry making; The day we met him, he was wearing a necklace, a belt buckle and two bracelets that he had made.

Vern’s motto is: “Life is fun, you just have to let it be.” »

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For more information and daily updates from the Wyoming Food Bank, visit their website and follow them on Facebook.

PAID BY THE FOOD BANK OF WYOMING This article is a sponsored article. The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in the text are those solely of the organization that paid for the article and do not necessarily reflect the views, thoughts or opinions of Oil City News, its employees or its editor. Please complete this form if you would like to speak to our sales department about advertising opportunities on Oil City News.

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