In Wyoming, we place a high value on personal responsibility. Parents are responsible for raising and providing for their children, and that principle should remain intact. But good policy also has to deal with real conditions, not just ideals.
Each summer, Wyoming faces a predictable gap. During the school year, many children receive consistent meals through schools. When summer begins, that support disappears. In rural communities, where distances are long and access points are limited, there are few practical alternatives.
The scale of that gap is not insignificant. According to the 2023 Feeding America “Map the Meal Gap” report, an estimated 27,230 children in Wyoming are food insecure—about 21% of all children in the state. https://map.feedingamerica.org/county/2023/child/wyoming That is the reality we are dealing with.
The SUN Bucks program is a targeted response to that specific problem. It provides limited, seasonal assistance to help families cover food costs during the months when school meals are not available.
Critics have raised concerns about expanding government programs or weakening personal responsibility. Those are valid concerns and should always be part of the conversation. Public programs should be limited, efficient, and focused on clearly defined needs.
The question here is whether SUN Bucks meets that standard. First, it is narrowly scoped. This is not an open-ended entitlement. It is a seasonal program designed to address a known gap during a specific time of year.
Second, it is practical in a rural state. Traditional summer meal programs often rely on centralized locations. That model works in cities, but it breaks down in places where families may live miles from the nearest site. SUN Bucks allows families to access food locally, without requiring transportation that may not be available.
Third, it reflects a cost-conscious approach. Addressing food insecurity early is generally less expensive than dealing with the long-term effects. Children who lack consistent access to food are more likely to experience health issues, struggle in school, and require additional services later on. Those costs do not disappear—they shift.
From a fiscal standpoint, the question is not whether there is a cost. It is when and how that cost is paid.
There is also an important distinction to make. Providing food to a child is not the same as excusing a parent’s responsibilities. It is a recognition that when something breaks down, the immediate impact falls on the child. Withholding food does not correct that breakdown. It simply ensures the child bears the consequence.
Wyoming has long balanced independence with a strong sense of neighborly responsibility. We expect people to take care of their own, but we also step in when there is a clear and immediate need. That balance is important.
Local charities, churches, and food pantries already do a significant amount of this work. But in many communities, those resources are limited. Families may only be able to access assistance once a month, and the amount provided often covers only a few days. These organizations are essential, but they are not positioned to fully replace the loss of school meals across an entire summer. SUN Bucks does not replace those efforts. It supports them.
For those concerned about dependency, it is worth noting again that this program is temporary and targeted. It does not create a permanent system of support. It addresses a seasonal gap in a way that is flexible and accessible for rural families. At its core, this issue comes down to how we apply our values in practice.
We can uphold personal responsibility while also recognizing that children do not control the circumstances they are born into. We can focus on long-term solutions while still addressing immediate needs. These are not competing ideas.
SUN Bucks is a limited, practical tool that helps ensure that when school is out, access to food does not disappear with it. It represents a decision to address a real problem in a way that is measured, targeted, and mindful of both cost and impact. In the end, this is less about expanding government and more about closing a gap we already know exists. And in Wyoming, when we see a gap, we fix it.
Kyle Borger
Executive Director
Goshen HELP DBA WYO HELP