EVANSTON — Earlier this year, representatives and volunteers from the numerous food banks in Wyoming attended the annual Southwest Regional Summit. The summit provided an opportunity for foodbank volunteers from across the state to meet each other and gain insight on the successes of tackling food insecurity in Wyoming. The Lord’s Storehouse board members and volunteers Jodi Juretich and Toni Walworth attended the event, representing Evanston.
Attending the two-day event were Wyoming First Lady Jennie Gordan and Hunter Chris Christensen, representing the Hughes Charitable Foundation (HCF), which sponsored the event. The HCF is a Wyoming philanthropic non-profit whose mission is focused on supporting the poor, hungry, oppressed, imprisoned, housing insecure, veterans, women and children and indigenous communities.
The highlight of the summit was the opening dinner and volunteer awards ceremony which 100 people attended. It was held in Thayne. Christensen and Gordon presented a service award to Walworth at the dinner.
“I was totally surprised,” Walworth told the Herald. “I am grateful. There are so many wonderful people doing the work in food banks and other organizations across Wyoming. Representatives from YAHA and the Boys and Girls Club were also in attendance at the dinner. It was wonderful to meet and get to know volunteers from other agencies and food banks.”
The Lord’s Storehouse secretly nominated Walworth, a 10-year volunteer and board member, for the award. The following was included in the nomination letter:
“It is with great respect that the volunteers of The Lord’s Storehouse recognize Toni Walworth for nearly a decade of tireless service to Evanston. Toni mentors hundreds of volunteers, including those in community service programs, with open arms and a steady hand. Beyond distribution hours, she coordinates essential deliveries and donation logistics, often working more than 40 hours a week in her ‘retirement.’ With a professional background as an RN and EMT, Toni’s life has been defined by care — a devotion mirrored in her personal life where, as her husband lovingly notes, she has been ‘putting up with me and caring for me for the last 53 years.’ Toni is a true servant of the people and Evanston is profoundly blessed by her unwavering dedication.”
The Lord’s Storehouse in Evanston is one of the five the largest food banks in Wyoming, founded almost 40 years ago by local resident Kay Rossiter, who is still active in the organization. Since the year 2021 to the end of April 2026, the Lord’s Storehouse has distributed 1.6 million pounds of food to 60,000 households. The volunteers also prepare boxes of food and hygiene products for the local Salvation Army and the Uinta Community Service Center.
Walworth said she will keep on volunteering at the food bank as long as she can. She added that there are lots of people who want to help. Walworth said Jodi Juretich has been an amazing partner to work with; the two share the job of manager of the Lord’s Storehouse.
Correction: An earlier version of this story said The Lord's Storehouse is the largest food bank in Wyoming, which is incorrect.
