(Hudson, WY) – The God’s Pantry food bank in Hudson faces eviction following issues with utility payments, a situation that may find a resolution at tonight’s (January 14) town council meeting.
Late last week, social media posts began circulating about the eviction notice, which stated that pantry operator Louise Barker had 10 days to pay a total of $1,081.23 in electric bills for 2024. That notice was sent on January 7.
God’s Pantry (which is open Mondays and Thursdays from 9 AM to 12 PM, and from 3 to 6 PM), has been in operation for about 10 years, and began with Pastor Craig Waters when the Set Free Church in Riverton started giving him bread to distribute in Hudson.
When Pastor Waters later left town, another person ran the food bank for a period of time before Barker took over soon after.
Barker told County 10 that the pantry moved around several places during that time, from her own home to local churches and eventually to the front of Hudson’s Town Hall.
Barker said that when current Mayor Sherry Oler took office two years ago, she soon expressed safety/health concerns about having the food bank outside
“She said that it was causing them to get rats,” Barker shared.
Mayor Oler then offered Barker space at the old town hall/jail, at a rate of “$1 a year for 20 years.” God’s Pantry has operated out of that space since then, for about a year now.
In addition to food items like bread, meats and canned goods, Barker also provides toiletries and other common necessities, sometimes out of her own pocket.
“I used to get my nails done and I don’t anymore, so I can spend that money getting stuff to help people feed people in need.”
Barker shared with County 10 that she helps those in need from first-hand experience being in the same situation.
“I was a single mom in California when my kids were real little. I know what it’s like to not have shampoo for a shower, to not have toothpaste to brush your teeth. I would take one pack of hot dogs, one eight-pack of hot dogs and feed me and my two kids for a week with that. Yeah, I know what it’s like.”
Barker says that on the days they are open, God’s Pantry gives out food to at least 10+ people and their families, many of whom are repeat visitors. They also deliver food to people in Hudson and the surrounding towns, including areas on the Wind River Reservation.
The utility issues began last winter when the first electric bill in January was $324, which was technically still the town’s responsibility at that point since it’s a town-owned building, Barker explained.
After that first bill, Barker says Mayor Oler told her she wasn’t allowed to run the heat above 50 degrees in order to keep the electric bill at the price it was when no one was in the building. She says she did her best to keep the electric bill low, and only turned on the lights when the sun went down so older folks could still see while inside, oftentimes while she and the other workers were wearing hats and gloves while working.
Barker also added that otherwise, God’s Pantry only has a small fridge, a small freezer, and a security camera contributing to the electric bill.
Ultimately, the electric bills added up to $1,081.23 by the end of 2024, and the notice was sent to Barker on January 7.
In response to the many social media posts about the issue, Mayor Oler released the following statement on the Town of Hudson Facebook page on January 9.
In January, 2024, the Town of Hudson entered into a TRIAL lease agreement with Louise Barker to move the free food (meat, vegetables, dairy, bread) previously housed on tables in front of town hall and exposed to the elements, to the town’s building next door. Our attorney recommended the food be removed from town hall for health and legal reasons. The town agreed to lease the old town jail to Ms. Barker for an annual fee of $1.00 through January 31, 2025. Because the building has no insulation and previous tenants received extremely high electric bills for heating ($300+ per month), Ms. Barker was asked to keep the thermostat to 50 degrees, since the town paid the utility bills and hence, the reason the lease was a trial. As an example, the first month “God’s Pantry” was operational, the electric bill totaled $321.11. Ms. Barker was aware of the town’s reasons regarding the electric bills and after the town received the first bill over $300, she was notified. Since then, the electric bills during the cold months have averaged $200 a month. Prior to Ms. Barker’s occupancy, the electric bill for the building was consistently $25.54 per month. Pursuant to the terms of the lease, the Town is required to give Ms. Barker 10 days notice of cancellation or termination of the lease. Her lease ends January 31, 2025, and she signed for the notice of the cancellation letter on January 7, 2025.
I understand Ms. Barker requested to be on the agenda for our town council meeting next Tuesday. I hope she will submit a proposal to town council members to renegotiate the terms of the lease. Payment of utilities is the only item of contention on the lease and I consider the matter open to negotiation.
“I’m not trying to get rid of God’s Pantry,” Mayor Oler later shared with County 10. “I am just trying to be fiscally responsible for public funds and dealing with a building lease only.”
“We’re just going to need to renegotiate the lease a bit and she’ll probably be able to stay there if she chooses to.”
As shared in the Mayor’s statement above, Barker is set to speak at tonight’s Town Council meeting, where a timely resolution may be possible.
“If I have to do it out of my yard, I’m gonna keep it going for these people,” Barker commented, and added that God’s Pantry will still be taking donations while they figure out the situation.
The council meeting will take place tonight at 6 PM in Hudson’s Town Hall, located at 333 S. Main Street.
God’s Pantry can be reached at (307) 840-4205.
The Town of Hudson can be reached at (307) 332-3605.