Cody McGuffin moved to Wyoming more than 30 years ago because, “well it was Wyoming. ” “I’m originally from Alabama,” he said with a traces of the unmistakable southern accent. “But I love Wyoming. I love being out here where people take care of each other.”  This spring McGuffin will be leaving his home in Freedom to travel across the nation to Washington, D.C. The reason for making the trip is pretty straight forward as far as McGuffin is concerned.
“I’m going to leave the first week of May and take along supplies and good to help people,” he said. “I just want to help folks.”

The help McGuffin is offering is two fold. One, he is working to organize a community drive to assemble clothing and supplies to help people in need along his travel route. And two, he is gathering the thoughts and feelings of people he comes across on his journey to share with the nation’s leaders.

“There are folks out there who can’t even turn on their lights or feed their kids,” he said. “They need help. When was the last time a congressman had to worry about what he was going to feed his family? Our political leaders have lost touch with the people of this country. And folks are tired and don’t say anything because they don’t think they will be heard. I just want to make sure they are heard.”

According to McGuffin, the travel route from Freedom to Washington, D.C. has not yet been finalized. But, a website is up and running and excitement about the trip is building.

“We are looking for an old, depression era vehicle to make the trip in,” said McGuffin. “We are in a depression now and people are hurting. So, that is the kind of vehicle we are looking for. If folks around here are aware of where I can find one of those, it would be appreciated. It doesn’t have to run. I am pretty handy with a tool box.”

At the end of the journey, McGuffin said, the vehicle will be auctioned off and the proceeds used to help families in need.

Donations of food, clothing or cash to buy items to help families in need are also being collected.

“We have a lot of people who talk about things that need to be done to help, but they don’t do anything, just talk,” said McGuffin. “Well, I am going to start doing something. We can all help each other. So if you have some old clothes or something like that  to help somebody else out, we will use it.”

The Freedom to D.C. ride has a website that is up and running at this point. More information about the project will be available on the site in the next few weeks.

“I guess I see this as becoming more of a movement than anything,” said McGuffin. “We are not associated with any political movement or with corporate America. We are just communities helping communities.”

For more information, visit freedomtodc.com.

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