As part of America’s 250th celebration, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is delivering over 38,250 pounds of food to more than a dozen local nonprofit organizations.

The items — which range from mac and cheese to green beans to hot cocoa — will be distributed Friday evening at Cody City Park, in conjunction with a community family night hosted by the church (see related story).

Recipients include food pantries, senior centers and other service-oriented organizations across Park County.

The 27 pallets that arrived in Cody last week represented one of 250 semitruckloads of goods that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is delivering across all 50 states. The effort is part of the way the church is joining with the official America250 committee and the associated America Gives initiative to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Reaching all 50 states is “a powerful reminder that service connects us across geography, backgrounds and beliefs,” America250 Chair Rosie Rios said in a recent statement. “From Alaska and Hawaii to Boston and beyond, Americans are showing that one of the best ways to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday is by serving their neighbors and strengthening their communities.”

Amy Dansie, a spokeswoman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Cody area congregations, said they were grateful to be one of the locations picked to receive a truckload from the church.

“It’s exciting,” she said.

Most of the goods were produced by the church, which operates farms, processing facilities and storehouses as part of its global welfare system. The donations were funded by church members through “fast offerings,” in which they forgo two straight meals and give the money they would have spent to those in need.

By the end of this year, the 250 truckloads are expected to provide roughly 10 million meals-worth of food. The shelf-stable items delivered in Cody include beef stew, apple sauce, dry milk, spaghetti and sauce, flour, peanut butter, pinto beans, salsa, chili, spaghetti bites, rice, corn, tomatoes and dish soap.

Volunteers will help deliver the goods to 13 local nonprofits on Friday evening. Recipients include Powell Valley Loaves and Fishes, The Cody Cupboard and the Mannahouse food pantries, the Powell, Cody and Meeteetse senior centers, American Legion Hughes-Pittinger Post 26 in Powell, St. John’s Episcopal Church and St. Barbara’s Catholic Church in Powell, Food 4 Kids (a joint effort by Christ Church Cody and First Presbyterian Church Cody), Cody Holiday Helpers, Crisis Intervention Services and Youth Clubs of Park County.

Surplus materials will go to the local congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

This week’s delivery follows similar shipments that the church provided to local organizations in October 2024 and March 2023, plus a massive 96,000-pound contribution in December 2021.

Meanwhile, the church is on the verge of completing its new temple in Cody. The facility is set to open for public tours from Aug. 27 to Sept. 12 ahead of a formal dedication on Oct. 25.

Church hosting family night in Cody

Local residents are being invited to Cody City Park on Friday evening for a community family night and a livestreamed concert.

Hosted by local congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the event will feature food, sweet treats, face painting, a ring toss, corn hole, a photo booth and more from 5:30-7 p.m. 

Then from 7-8:30 p.m., attendees can watch a live video feed of The Tabernacle Choir performing “Songs of Hope” at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

The concert is a benefit for CARE, Helen Keller International and The Hunger Project, with special guests like Donny Osmond and former American Idol runner-up Katherine McPhee set to join the 360-member choir and 200-member orchestra.

Friday’s event in Cody is free and open to the public, though attendees are encouraged to bring a donation for a local nonprofit.

Specifically, organizers are seeking: art supplies and sunscreen for the  Youth Clubs of Park County; new twin size bedsheets for Sleep in Heavenly Peace; cleaning supplies and women’s toiletries for Crisis Intervention Services; toiletries or new socks and underwear for toddlers to teens for St. John’s Episcopal Church Thrift Store; or quilt batting and red, white or blue fabric that Families on the Frontline can use to craft quilts for local veterans.

The church will also be making a big donation on Friday evening, distributing over 38,000 pounds of food to area nonprofits (see related story).