Today, Wyomingites in 14 communities have a chance to help those who need one of life's basic necessities by engaging in a popular pastime - eating out.

Sponsored by the Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies, headquartered in Casper, simply eating out at any one of 29 different restaurants during regular hours they are open will help feed the hungry in Wyoming during "Eat Out to End Hunger."

Participating restaurants have pledged to donate 10 percent of the day's total sales to the food bank.

"For each dollar donated, WFBR can provide enough food for four meals to hungry children, seniors and families through our member agencies," said director Diane DeLozier.

DeLozier opened the Wyoming warehouse in Mills almost four years ago, and 2.5 million pounds of food was distributed to agencies in each of Wyoming's 23 counties last year. She says that now the need is "probably 10 times greater than that."

Nonprofit organizations that receive food from the food bank range from traditional community soup kitchens and food banks to after-school programs for children and senior citizen centers.

"Anybody trying to fill that void to feed the hungry," DeLozier said in describing the food bank's member agencies.

This is the last big event for DeLozier, who leaves the agency Friday for a new job as the director of the Powell Medical Foundation.

"Powell is where I came from when I moved to Casper 15 years ago, and it will be good to go back, but this is a very hard job to leave, very hard," she said. "It's the best job I've ever had."

The Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies is a branch of the Food Bank of the Rockies in Denver, which is a member of America's Second Harvest - the Nation's Food Bank Network.

From its Mills warehouse, however, all money raised in Wyoming stays in Wyoming and all food donated in Wyoming stays in Wyoming.

"Colorado really gave a true gift to Wyoming," DeLozier said. "The long-range goal is to become our own America's Second Harvest Food Bank Network. We're the only state in the country that doesn't have one. But until we break away and become self-sustaining … What an investment for a board in Denver to decide to feed Wyoming."

DeLozier's funds come from a mix of foundation, corporation and individual gifts. She says contributions from private individuals have almost tripled since last year and are now close to $40,000.

She thinks the food bank's shiny 18-wheeler with the snazzy graphics on the trailer may have something to do with that.

"People are becoming more aware of us. More people see that on the road and it lends credibility to who we are," she said.

As for today's fundraiser, which is as easy as ordering a taco for lunch or pizza for dinner from a participating restaurant, DeLozier said, "I really want this to work. If we had one restaurant in every town in Wyoming, then every citizen would have a chance to help feed the hungry, and wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?"

Reach Community News editor Sally Ann Shurmur at (307) 266-0520; sallyann.shurmur@trib.com or see her profile and blog at my.trib.com/Sal/blog

You can help

By eating at one of these restaurants today, you can help feed Wyoming's hungry.

*Bondurant: Elkhorn Bar & Grill, 14523 Hwy 189/191

*Casper: Burger King, 4051 CY Ave.; Burger King, 596 N. Poplar; Burger King, 81 SE Wyoming Blvd.; Ghost Town, 6680 W. Yellowstone Ave.; The Market & More, 112 E. 2nd St.; Papa John�s Pizza, 1501 E. 2nd St.; Parkway Caf�, 123 West E St.; Poor Boys Steakhouse, 739 N. Center St.; Sandwich Bar, 124 E. 2nd; Sherrie�s Place, 310 W. Yellowstone; The World Famous Wonder Bar, 256 S. Center St.

*Cheyenne: Papa John�s Pizza, 1958-B Dell Range Blvd.; Papa John�s Pizza, 408 E. Yellowstone; Pretzelmaker/TCBY, 1400 Dell Range Blvd.; The Capitol Grille at the Historic Plains Hotel, 1600 Central Ave.

*Cody: Willow Fence Tea Room, 1913 Stampede Ave.

*Dubois: Rustic Pine Steakhouse, 117 E. Ramshorn St.

*Green River: Taco Time, 375 Uinta Dr.

*Jackson: The Blue Lion, 160 N. Millward St.; Jackson�s Hole Bar & Grill, 832 W. Broadway

*Lander: Summit Restaurant, 260 Grand View Dr.

*Laramie: Papa John�s Pizza, 553 N. 3rd St.

*Rawlins: Huckleberry�s Espresso, Inc., 509 W. Cedar St.

*Riverton: The Breadboard, 124 E. Washington

*Rock Springs: Taco Time, 2700 Dewar Dr.

*Saratoga: Lollypops, 107 E. Bridge St.

*Sinclair: Su Casa Caf�, 705 Lincoln Hwy

*Thermopolis: Las Fuentes, 530 Arapahoe St.