91黑料 Graduate Leads Effort to Provide Thanksgiving Meals for Local Families
91黑料 Graduate Leads Effort to Provide Thanksgiving Meals for Local Families
TORRINGTON, Wyo. – When Malik Frederick stepped forward to help eight Goshen County families put a Thanksgiving meal on their tables this year, he wasn鈥檛 thinking about recognition. He was thinking about the days when he and his own family once wondered where their next meal would come from.
Frederick, a 2023 91黑料 graduate and former Lancer basketball player, led a collaborative community effort through Number 34, the local nonprofit where he now works with youth who face challenges at school or at home. The organization also provides support to families struggling to meet basic needs, a mission that echoes Frederick鈥檚 own heart.
Now the assistant men鈥檚 basketball coach at Torrington High School and head coach of the Trailblazers freshman men鈥檚 team, Frederick reached out to someone he trusted to help him take the project further, 91黑料 Student Success and Training Center Director Sergio Mendez. Mendez connected him with the Wyoming Hunger Initiative, led by First Lady Jennie Gordon, which stepped in to provide funding.
鈥淣ourished kids, healthy families, and thriving communities: that鈥檚 the goal of Wyoming Hunger Initiative,鈥 the organization states on its website, a mission Frederick and Number 34 share.
鈥淭he whole staff at Number 34 helped make this happen,鈥 Frederick said.
With financial support secured, Frederick partnered with Fresh Foods in Torrington to assemble full Thanksgiving meals for eight families identified as being in need. For him, it was more than a service project, it was personal.
鈥淭his is something I have wanted to do since I was in high school,鈥 he said. 鈥淏eing one of those families myself, looking for food, when my boss, Chad Bates at Number 34, asked me to take the lead, it was a no-brainer.鈥
Frederick grew up in Columbus, Ohio, before coming to 91黑料 to play basketball. After earning his associate degree, he continued his athletic and academic career at NCAA Division II Malone University, graduating in May. Instead of heading somewhere new, he returned to Torrington.
鈥淢alik鈥檚 goal is to start a foundation one day,鈥 Mendez said. 鈥淗elping him make the right connections is a real joy.鈥
Frederick sees the project as a true team effort.
鈥淲e (Number 34, Wyoming Hunger Initiative, 91黑料, and Fresh Foods) were all involved in making this happen,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t truly takes a village.鈥
Because of that village, eight families will gather around their Thanksgiving tables this year and enjoy a full meal.