Day Of Giving Founder: Food Needs In Cheyenne Are “Staggering”
The Founder of the Cheyenne Day of Giving says many families are struggling in Cheyenne, sometimes even with parents working full time.
Greta Morrow founded Day of Giving 20 years ago, motivated by her experiences as a cancer patient with Stage 4 leukemia. The 20th annual Day of Giving is slated for Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kiwanis Community House In Lions Park.
A youth Day Of Giving event will be held on Thursday afternoon at the same location from 3:30 until 6:30 p.m.
In a Saturday appearance on the 'Weekend In Wyoming' program on A.M. 650, KGAB, Morrow said that in many cases the fact people are struggling to buy food and pay the bills may not be readily apparent. But that doesn't mean it isn't happening.
Morrow Says Many Are Struggling
Morrow says one case of a family that is struggling illustrates a common pattern. "I was amazed. I thought this dad has a full-time job, you know. What's going on?''
But she goes on to say that when you look at what things cost "I don't know how people afford rent these days. And with inflation, you know, the inflation we had on food? That tipped a lot of people over into poverty."
Morrow goes on to say the number of people struggling just to feed themselves in Cheyenne is "Staggering.... The last statistic I heard from Needs, and it's probably out of date, is 600 boxes of food a week go out."
Non-perishable foods like pasta, rice, beans and canned goods will be collected at the event. But food isn't the only item that will be collected. A wide range of other items, ranging from eye glasses to hygiene items like shampoo and tooth brushes and many other items will be collected. People can also donate money which will be disbursed over the course of the year to organizations in the community that help people.
You can learn more about donations here.