Folks enjoyed their meal, viewed the Clinic gardens, and were offered free Covid vaccines from Pole Mountain Pharmacy

BY TOM KOCAL for This is Laramie 815-275-3025 TKocal915@icloud.com

LARAMIE — The Laramie Soup Kitchen offered something different last week by serving meals at the Downtown Clinic. 

Held Wednesday, June 2, the event was designed to promote not only the services provided by the Soup Kitchen to the general public, but also to expose Laramie to the services provided by the Downtown Clinic.

Normally serving from the lower level of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Cathedral, the facility includes a small food pantry and serves hot lunches Monday through Friday. 

“The lunch was a partnership with the Downtown Clinic and the relationship that we have with them,” said Laramie Soup Kitchen Deputy Director Sarah Carroll. 

“Pole Mountain Pharmacy also offered to come by and partner with the Clinic to offer free vaccines,” said Ted Cramer, executive director of the LSK. 

Dr. Grace Gosar, the co-medical director at the Downtown Clinic for 5-years, said First Lady of Wyoming Jennie Gordon, wife of Governor Mark Gordon, has a humanitarian interest in not allowing people to go hungry.
“This year she bought about $5,000 worth of seeds for any organization or individual to grow food, then turn some of it back to community services like the soup kitchen or food pantries. The Clinic is participating in this program,” Gosar said. 

In October 2019, the First Lady launched the Wyoming Hunger Initiative, whose mission is to end hunger in the Cowboy State. The initiative works to prevent food insecurity by increasing awareness and support for the work of local anti-hunger organizations like the Laramie Soup Kitchen and the Downtown Clinic. 

“What we’re growing hasn’t produced anything yet, but our rhubarb has! So we’re passing some of it back to Sarah at the soup kitchen, and she will be making something delicious with it.”

Brett Kvenilod, owner and pharmacist at Pole Mountain Pharmacy, said they have been offering the Covid vaccine at the pharmacy since February.
“We have been looking for more opportunities to help more people get vaccinated,” said Kvenilod. “When the Downtown Clinic spoke with me about partnering with the soup kitchen to try and make some easy access for folks, I jumped at the chance. I thought it was a great idea.” 

Watch the Laramie Soup Kitchen on Facebook for weekly menus and other information, visit laramiesoupkitchen.org, or call 307-460-1605. The kitchen is open from 9 am to 1:30 pm for food donation drop off, and hot meals are served from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. 

Visit the Downtown Clinic web site at DowntownClinic.org for more information about what they offer to the community, and to see if you qualify to utilize any of the services; or call 307-745-8445. 

“You will be scheduled for an eligibility appointment to understand more about your health and to gather more pertinent information,” Gosar said. The clinic is located at 611 S. 2nd St. in Laramie, and is open for patients Tuesday-Thursday. A live chat is also available 24/7. 

Pole Mountain Pharmacy is located at 319 E. Harney St., the corner of 4th and Harney, call 307-460-4080, or visit PoleMountainPharmacy.com for more information.

At NoHungerWyo.org you will find additional information about the Wyoming Hunger Initiative.