People for People provide food to those in need

People for People is a small group of volunteers that provide free meals every Sunday for those in need in Thermopolis. Judy Carswell said the group is down to eight teams that provide the meals, though 12 is optimal. “Our teams,” she explained, “consist of different entities in the community.” For instance, the team she’s on is the courthouse team; other teams might come from churches, the VFW or even a neighborhood.

Meal recipients are mainly those who can’t get out, or may not be able to afford meals. “All they have to do is just call and say they want one,” Carswell said, and right now they provide meals for about 70 people.

The food for the program is bought at local grocery stores, Carswell said, and was previously stocked at the Episcopal church; now, teams are asked to purchase the food they plan to cook at the grocery stores.

People for People operates through donated funds, and has one fundraiser for the year — the annual Tour of Homes, this year on Monday, Dec. 19, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Carswell explained people volunteer to put their houses on the tour, and they usually get five or six. This year’s tour includes: Hope and Tyler Mead, Dale and Ciley Andreen, Stephanie and Josh Conrad, Lily Hayes, Jason and Stephanie Owens, and Dan and Margaret Stansill.

The decorations on the tour are amazing, Carswell said, as people go above and beyond what they might normally do, to make it exceptional for the people on the tour.

People can then purchase tickets for the tour from local businesses at $6 each, and Carswell noted the money from the fundraiser goes to feed people for a year.

In addition to the tour, which goes from 5:30-8 p.m., there is a reception at Thermopolis Middle School starting at 6 p.m., hosted by staff and students. Last year they had a hall-decorating contest at the school, Carswell said, so people on the tour got to see that as well. The staff and students provided treats and drinks, along with additional activities such as stringing popcorn, and local businesses donated door prizes.

There are also some donated items put up for silent auction, Carswell said, as well as a Memorial Tree which people can decorate with ornaments in memory of their loved ones.

Carswell has been a part of the program for 20 years, her kids were raised helping and now her grandchildren help deliver meals. Not only is this good, to teach young people about volunteering, Carswell said it’s good for the recipients. “They’re pretty excited to see young kids come . . . it makes their day.”

It’s surprising to see there are people in need in the community, Carswell said. “We don’t realize it in our day-to-day life. We get wrapped up in what we do and expecting everything to be perfect.”