Nonprofit to bring affordable groceries to Casper
CASPER — Living in a low-income household where food was not always a guarantee inspired Bobbi Collins to create a more affordable option.
Collins is the executive director and founder of Cornerstone Market, a non- profit looking to plant its roots in Casper. Cornerstone would provide groceries, clothes, pet supplies and more at heavily discounted prices.
“One problem I faced as a single mom trying to get out of that low-income bracket was I switched jobs and I was making 25, 50 cents more an hour, and I lost my benefits, my food stamps,” Collins said. “And so trying to get out of that bracket where it’s like, ‘Okay, do I take this job where I’m getting 50 cents more an hour and lose my food stamps, or do I stay where I’m at?’ And it’s a really big struggle just to kind of improve yourself and get out of that situation because of that gap.”
A 25-cent raise would only bring in around $40 a month more before taxes. That amount may be enough to push someone over the income restrictions, but it pales in comparison to the assistance he would have been receiving to afford groceries.
Collins said the need for a more affordable grocery store is growing as prices rise.
“And groceries nowadays are just ridiculous,” she said. “I can remember many times where we went hungry or I let my siblings eat instead of myself... I don’t wish that on anybody.”
Collins said items at Cornerstone Marker would be between 30% and 75% cheaper than at big- box stores. To accomplish such a feat, Collins said the store would rely on partnerships with those same stores.
“[It works] through partnerships that we establish with other companies, such as Walmart, Alb- ertsons, Smith’s, Menards, anybody that we could partner with that would donate any extra food,” Collins said. “Or, say they have a stock of a new cereal that didn’t do too well and they want to get rid of that to replace it with something else. They would just set that aside and donate that to us.”
Collins, who has managed a grocery store in the past, said stores often cannot sell certain pallets of items if they come in slightly damaged, even if it doesn’t affect the actual product.
Donating to Cornerstone Market is not a total loss for the stores. As a nonprofit, any donations made to Cornerstone Market are tax deductible.
Collins said she also plans to apply for grants, host fundraisers and item drives to help supply the store, particularly in its first few operational months.
The operation will rely heavily on volunteers to stock and man the store, but Collins hopes to eventually have a 50/50 model of hired staff and volunteers.
Cornerstone Market was originally going to be in Glenrock. Collins owns the old Bobbi’s Classic Diner building. She was planning on converting it to house the market, but a lack of community support stopped the project in its tracks.
Casper, however, has been more than welcoming, Collins noted.
“And, so far, Casper has been open, receptive, open arms, everybody’s reaching out, wanting to help us,” she said.
The store does not have a home yet, but Collins said she is in the process of finding a place to lease. She hopes to open by this fall.
In addition to discounted groceries, the store would have a weekly food bank and emergency vouchers. The vouchers — which would be given out by the Department of Family Services — would allow people who have an immediate need to come in when the food bank is not usually operational.
The Cornerstone Market is not the first of its kind. Collins said the idea was modeled after stores in Powell and Cody. Down Home Discount has two storefronts offering discounted products to members of its community.
However, Collins said Down Home Discount is a for-profit business.
“And the reason that we’re doing nonprofit instead of for-profit is because we don’t want it to go with us wherever we go,” she said. “We want it to be something that the community all hops on board and keeps it going to help the community for years to come.”
This story was published on April 14, 2026.