From the Heart Ministries Food Assistance Program

05/04/2026

05/04/2026

One of the questions we get asked most often is:

“How can I help?”

First — thank you. That question means more to us than you know.

The truth is, there are so many ways to help, but one of the biggest and easiest ways is by hosting a Food & Monetary Drive.

Whether it’s through your church, workplace, school, club, or even a group of friends, coming together to collect food or donations makes a real difference for local families right here in the Bridger Valley.

To make it simple, we put together a full Food & Monetary Drive Packet with everything you need to get started.

Swipe through for a preview.

Want the full packet? Download it here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ecss0lpkVV4bQaLQVv9Y50cJHxCXrLL0/view?usp=drive_link

And truly — thank you for asking how you can help. That heart for community is what keeps this work going. 💛

04/29/2026

Ever wonder what those dates on food packages actually mean?

“Best By” does not always mean bad.

According to the USDA, many food date labels are about quality, not safety.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Best if Used By = Best flavor or quality
• Sell By = Helps stores manage inventory
• Use By = Recommended for best quality
• Freeze By = Best time to freeze for freshness

Good food is often thrown away too soon because of confusion around dates.

Before tossing it:
✔ Check the package
✔ Look for damage or swelling
✔ Smell it
✔ Check the texture

At From the Heart Ministries Food Assistance Program, we work hard to reduce waste and make food go further for local families.

Food matters. Waste less. Feed more.

Want to learn more? USDA has a great guide on food product dating:
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/food-product-dating

04/28/2026

Got peanut butter in the pantry and not sure what to do with it?

Here’s a fun and simple idea to use some of it up — Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars!

Sweet, salty, easy, and made with simple ingredients you may already have at home. A great little treat for kids, after-school snacks, or just something sweet after dinner.

If you make these, let us know how they turn out.

Good food doesn’t have to be fancy, sometimes it just takes using what you already have.

Pretzels and peanut butter baked into a gooey bar? Trust us, it works! These bars pack in protein and whole grains so you can snack smart without sacrificing flavor. Find the recipe here: https://uwyocnp.org/peanut-butter-pretzel-bars/

04/25/2026

This week is Volunteer Appreciation Week… and I’ll be honest, I’m a little late to the game getting this posted.

But that doesn’t change how grateful we are.

This food bank would not exist without our volunteers. Plain and simple.

From the folks who help sort and separate food,
to those filling bags and boxing items,
to the ones unloading trucks,
to the behind-the-scenes help with paperwork,
to the moving parts on distribution day,
and even our board members who help guide and support this work…

Every single one of you matters.

Every hour you give, every box you lift, every small task you take on — it all adds up to something really big for our neighbors.

We truly couldn’t do this without you.

And we want to give a special thank you to Kelly Hughes, our founder. This organization has been serving our community since 1999, and it all started from the heart.

We are just so thankful to be part of something that has been built with so much care and compassion over the years. 

From all of us — thank you for showing up, for caring, and for being part of this.

We’re blessed to have you.

04/19/2026

🍎 Pantry Meal: Warm Cinnamon Fruit Crumble (Canned Fruit)

Ingredients
• 1–2 cans fruit (peaches, pears, apples, mixed fruit)
• 1/2 cup oats (or crushed crackers/cereal if no oats)
• 2–3 tbsp peanut butter or butter (optional but adds richness)
• 2 tbsp sugar (optional)
• Cinnamon (if you have it)

Directions
Drain a little liquid from fruit (leave some so it’s not dry).
Pour fruit into a small baking dish or pan.
In a bowl, mix oats + peanut butter (or butter) + sugar + cinnamon.
Sprinkle over the top.
Bake at 350° for about 20 minutes until warm and slightly crispy on top.

04/17/2026

We’re doing SO great with our survey responses — thank you, everyone!! 🙌

We’re really starting to see what foods are most helpful (and what’s not getting used), and that’s exactly what we needed.

Now we’re this close to our next goal… we just need 10 more responses!

So help us out — come on, come on, come on… let’s finish strong! 💛

If you haven’t taken the survey yet, it takes less than 5 minutes.

Every response helps us make better decisions and serve our community the right way.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdgKLJBjHvz3KwQ4xKZFmmjAiCjDgPvMFfx1VySC3HXlC6F7w/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=112052854422565742848

We want to serve our community better. This short survey helps us understand what food is most helpful, what isn’t being used, and what we should focus on moving forward. Your feedback helps reduce waste and make sure families receive food they can actually use. Thank you for being part of this.

04/03/2026

We could really use your help for just a few minutes.

We’ve put together a short survey to better understand what food is most helpful to the families we serve — and what may not be getting used.

This helps us make better decisions, reduce waste, and make sure we’re providing food that truly supports our community.

The survey takes less than 5 minutes to complete, and your input really does make a difference.

👉 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdgKLJBjHvz3KwQ4xKZFmmjAiCjDgPvMFfx1VySC3HXlC6F7w/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=112052854422565742848

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and for being part of this community.

We want to serve our community better. This short survey helps us understand what food is most helpful, what isn’t being used, and what we should focus on moving forward. Your feedback helps reduce waste and make sure families receive food they can actually use. Thank you for being part of this.

03/30/2026

The valley showed up… just like it always does.

We had another successful food drive this Saturday, hosted and sponsored by the Unknown Saints, and we are so incredibly grateful.

A huge thank you to the Unknown Saints for organizing and supporting this effort — and an even bigger thank you to every single person who donated.

Every can. Every dollar. Every act of kindness matters.

Because of you, we’re able to continue serving families right here in our community.

Thank you for showing up and giving from the heart.

03/28/2026

Come visit the Unknown Saints today at Benedicts Market from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. as they host a food drive in support of the From the Heart Ministries Food Assistance Program.

They will be accepting both food and monetary donations, and every contribution helps serve families right here in the Bridger Valley.

Every dollar… every can… makes a difference.

We hope to see you there!

03/27/2026

We need your help, Bridger Valley.

Our monthly food assistance program is growing, and so is the need for helping hands behind the scenes.

We’re currently looking for VOLUNTEERS:
• Help sort and organize food donations
• Bag and box food for distribution
• Assist with unloading deliveries (this is a big one)
• Help with small maintenance projects and basic upkeep around the building

Whether you can give a few hours here and there or help consistently throughout the month, it truly makes a difference. Every single role helps us serve families in our community with dignity and care.

We’re also looking for BOARD MEMBERS
If you’re passionate about giving back and want to be more involved at a leadership level, we are looking to grow our board for our 501(c)(3) nonprofit. There may also be officer roles available.

This is a chance to help shape the future of the program and strengthen what we’re building together.

Interested? Come join us:
May 1st at 10:00 AM
325 West Street, Mountain View

Come learn more, ask questions, and see where you might fit in.

This program exists because of this community… and we’d love to have you be part of it.

Send a message to learn more