2021 Annual Report - Food Bank of Alaska

INSIDE:

From Our CEO:  P2

Advocacy: P 3

SNAPSHOT: P4

Financials: P6

YourIMPACT

Mobile Food Pantries - A Staple in Local Neighborhoods

Amy DeBruhl, President

Katie Pesznecker, Secretary

Elizabeth Nobmann, Treasurer

Allison Biastock, Past President

Jennifer Coughlin

Katria Kangas

Tani Kron

Holly Mitchell

Ralph Pasana

Robin Phillips

Claudia Russell

Joe Rybak

Milena Sevigny

Rich Sewell

Cynthia Tisher

Erik Viste

Jim Baldwin, Chief Executive Officer

Barb Seibel, Chief Financial Officer

Jenny Di Grappa, Chief of Philanthropy and Community Relations

Cara Durr, Chief of Advocacy and Public Policy

Mike Reusser, Chief Operating Officer

The Mobile Food Pantry (MFP) Program was established in May 2006 with the help of John Arnold, Susannah Morgan and the East Anchorage Rotary. It allows for the distribution of hard to move and perishable items for fast, flexible delivery of rescued food and grocery products. When Food Bank of Alaska receives donated perishable food, such as fruits and vegetables, it is often close to the end of its life.

Our MFP distribution works diligently to provide this fresh food to families in need while it is still nutritious. Food Bank of Alaska coordinates MFP distribution through a network of 10 sponsoring agencies. In Anchorage we have grown from five to nine locations, strategically placed in areas of high need, allowing people who lack appropriate or accessible transportation to be served.

Over the past 15 years, MFP volunteers have spent over 75,000 hours to assist community members in accessing 16,780,000+ pounds of food. We now distribute over 1,100,000 pounds annually in Anchorage.

Lutheran Church of Hope

Muldoon Community Assembly

New Season Community Dev.

St. John United Methodist Church ChangePoint Alaska

New Hope Baptist Church

Jewel Lake Church of the Nazarene

First CME Church

Anchorage East Rotary

Greater Friendship Baptist

“The MFP makes a tremendous difference to help feed (my) family. If the MFP didn’t have fresh fruits and vegetables I would not be able to buy them at the store. I would only afford what is needed for the next meal.”

‒ Anonymous client

MFP Sponsors

Food for the Future

Food Bank of Alaska serves the entire state, along with three Partner Distribution Organizations who collect and distribute food in their service areas, including the Fairbanks Community Food Bank, Southeast Alaska Food Bank, and the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank. We work with 150+ agencies statewide, including pantries, meal programs, kids’ programs, and more. In FY21, we distributed 11 million pounds of food – the equivalent of 9.2 million meals – which was a record for our organization.

The COVID-19 pandemic created a public health and economic crisis like nothing we have ever faced. At the start of the pandemic, we and our partners saw a sharp 75% spike in the demand for food assistance. While the demand for food assistance has declined somewhat since the height of the pandemic, the need remains elevated compared to pre-pandemic times and we anticipate heightened demand for food assistance over the coming years.

Because of you, we are fortunate to now be operating in our new facility which allows us the capacity and flexibility to meet the current and future food needs of Alaskans. As a part of looking forward, we have updated our Strategic Plan to reflect efficiencies, opportunities, new partnerships, and creative ways of serving Alaskans statewide. This spring, we will be opening a new facility in the Mat-Su Valley to increase distribution efficiency. At the same time, we will be working to build our partnerships in rural communities in order to increase food access and availability. It truly takes a network of neighbors helping neighbors to ensure that no Alaskan goes hungry. Your continued generosity makes our mission possible.

Jim Baldwin Chief Executive Officer

Volunteer Spotlight

“I was born and raised here in Anchorage, and even though I’ve volunteered with other non-profits before, I feel like I know my community better after my time with Food Bank of Alaska. I still have a lot to learn but I’m so grateful to be a little more connected.”

Volunteers are a critical part of Food Bank of Alaska’s operations. Merry Engebretson registered to volunteer in March 2020 and shortly thereafter her employer, Ravn Alaska, filed for bankruptcy. Being laid off was devastating, but Merry soon became a regular volunteer at the Emergency Food Distribution event which was set up overnight to support the increase in food insecurity that was created by the pandemic. Volunteers handed out food boxes to an average of 537 households per week, totaling 36,000 households between April 2020 and May 2021.

During the winter, registering clients in the often freezing weather was hard work but Merry showed up every week with a pair of earmuffs and a welcoming smile. “It was really impactful to see people hanging in there, and that we were all working together to try to make it better.” Merry soon brought her husband Austin and sister Lacey along, “to contribute to our home in a valuable way.”

After the Emergency Food Distribution ended in May 2021, Merry started volunteering at a Mobile Food Pantry. “The fruit and bread would sometimes get smashed when packed into the bags for clients, so I brought boxes from home whenever I could. I wanted to preserve the dignity for people picking up food.” Merry’s fight against hunger has also extended to her professional work. She was rehired by Ravn Alaska as their Human Resources Manager when they resumed operations in fall 2020. In September 2021 Merry championed a company-wide food drive as a part of their initiative dedicated to community service. Ravn Alaska employees collected 582 pounds of food, which was then matched by a $1,000 company donation. In addition, Food Bank of Alaska and Ravn have been piloting a program to ship senior food boxes to St. Paul Island. Ravn has delivered 1,478 lbs. and counting of food to the St. Paul community at no cost.

Isabel and Al Milspaugh have been delivery driver volunteers for over three years. Every month, they team up to deliver food boxes to the homes of six low-income seniors in east Anchorage. These food boxes contain nutritious food including juice, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, and milk, all provided by the USDA Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).

Over 24,000 CSFP food boxes are distributed yearly across Alaska.

“It’s a two-way street because it is so rewarding for us, too.”

“A lot of people don’t volunteer because they don’t feel they’re qualified. I say everybody’s qualified because there’s always help if you have questions. You learn by doing it and by making mistakes,” said Al. Both have made strong connections with their clients. “Some don’t have relatives or contacts for support, so we really enjoy connecting with them,” said Isabel. Al adds, “The seniors really appreciate the direct contact and how a volunteer personally brings them their food every month.”

Neither are strangers to service. Al started volunteering at 11 years old with the Boys Scouts of America and served 20 years with the United States Air Force. They were State Ombudsmen for senior citizens and acted as coaches for their children’s sports teams, among countless other community roles. Both were honored by the 32nd Alaska State Legislature for their contributions to their country, state, and community and we are honored for their support of our mission and programs.

2022 “Food” Year's Resolution

A new year is about new traditions! How about a food resolution? We’re asking you to make one food-centric resolution to carry through the rest of 2022. Once you make this resolution, please share it out on social media with the hashtags #FoodSecurityWeek and #FoodYearsResolution.

Investing in Alaska’s Food System

Did you know that…

 Alaska imports roughly 95% of food purchased, which translates to roughly $1.9 billion leaving the state?

�� We have a 3- to 5-day supply of most foods in grocery stores, leaving us especially vulnerable to supply chain disruptions?

 There is a high desire for healthy, nutritious food among low-income Alaskans, and that 81% of Food Bank of Alaska clients report purchasing unhealthy, processed food because it was the cheapest option?

Alaska has endless opportunities to improve food security by strengthening our food system, from production to distribution to consumption. Alaska needs more in-state food production, and this nutritious, local food needs to be more accessible to low-income Alaskans. Through increasing infrastructure and developing markets, agriculture could be a key player in building a stronger, more sustainable future for Alaska. A robust food system would increase access to fresh, local, healthy foods, create new economic opportunities, and ensure that we are equipped to handle whatever the future holds.

Federal COVID recovery funding provides a unique opportunity to strengthen Alaska’s food system, which will have tremendous positive impact in both the short and long term. Food Bank of Alaska is proud to partner with the Alaska Food Policy Council, the Alaska Farm Bureau, the Alaska Farmers Market Association, and others to provide recommendations on strategic investments in Alaska food system. Recommendations include:

– Establish and expand local food purchasing programs, such as farm to food bank programs and incentive programs to help low-income Alaskans shop at farmers markets. Guaranteed markets will give farmers security in expanding

operations, and will help address the heightened levels of hunger Alaska has seen in the past year.

– Invest in food system infrastructure, such as cold storage, processing and manufacturing facilities, and shared-use kitchen facilities. Without infrastructure, there is only a certain amount of growth in food production Alaska will realize, and we know many of Food Bank of Alaska’s partners need more cold, dry, and frozen storage.

– Address transportation barriers, including those with the ferry system and bypass mail. Supplemental transportation funding would help to equitably distribute nutritious food throughout the state.

– Increase food system workforce development, which will strengthen the resiliency of our state’s food system while creating career pathways and a long-term workforce.

For the full list of 2022 Food Systems Priorities, visit foodbankofalaska.org/advocate, and click on Action Alerts & Policy Priorities.

SNAPSHOT: Feeding Alaska

11,073,479 net lbs.

FOOD DISTRIBUTED

This is a 2,056,177-pound (23%) increase over FY20. With the increased support of volunteers, partners, donors, and government agencies, Food Bank of Alaska was equipped to meet the challenge of an unprecedented level of food insecurity in Alaska brought on by the effects of the COVID pandemic.

1,191,380 meals PROVIDED THROUGH SNAP

Due to our SNAP outreach and application assistance efforts.

24,228 SENIOR BOXES DISTRIBUTED

Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) is a

22,495+ hours

1,740,791 DISTRIBUTED THROUGH MOBILE

WORKED BY 1,459 VOLUNTEERS

168,378 THROUGH CHILD

This includes our Program (SFSP), Food Program (CACFP), Nutrition (KNN),

28,821 DISTRIBUTED

MFPs distribute fresh food to families dairy products, and bread. These are through model. We work with 10 sponsoring MFP at nine convenient locations in SERVED

4,800 MEALS-TO-YOU SHIPPED

Shipped directly to children in the Aleutians and Yakutat.

Financial Statements

From the period of July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

and

at

*Gifts

$500,000+

(1) Anonymous Donor

Feeding America

M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust* Rasmuson Foundation*

$100,000-$499,999

Block Family Foundation Fund, a fund of the Alaska Community Foundation* Carrs Safeway

ConocoPhillips Alaska

Fred Meyer / Kroger Zero

Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation

Mat-Su Health Foundation*

Providence Alaska Foundation

Robin Hood Foundation

Walmart

$50,000-$99,999

Community Development, Inc.*

Harnish Group Inc.

Midas Alaska

Petro 49, Inc.*

Power Brothers Inc. through our charitable gaming permit

Shoreside Petroleum, Inc.*

St. Joseph Community Partnership

$20,000-$49,999

Alaska Industrial Hardware*

Alaska National- A CopperPoint Insurance Company

Blue Meridian / Food Research and Action Center

Costco K&L Distributors, Alaska

Lynden Inc.*

Matson*

Northrim Bank*

Subaru

TOTE Maritime Alaska* United Way of Anchorage

Verizon Foundation

Wells Fargo

$10,000-$19,999

3M

Alaska USA Federal Credit Union

AT&T

Atwood Foundation*

BEM Systems

CoBank

Coffman Engineers

Credit Union 1

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation

First National Bank Alaska*

First Presbyterian Church

Ford Motor Company Fund

Helen W. Bell Charitable Foundation

Kendall Toyota of Anchorage

Morgan Stanley

Northern Energy Services

Nyman Equipment Inc

Over The Rainbow Toys, Inc.

Red Nose Day

Skinny Raven Sports

Taiga Mining Company, Inc.

$5,000-$9,999

AARP Alaska

Alaska Steel Contractors & Erectors Association

Allstate Foundation

Architects Alaska, Inc.

Bank of America

Blake Oil & Gas Corporation

Brotherhood, Inc.

Coca-Cola Bottling of Alaska

Curtis-Meares Foundation

IBEW, Local 1547

MDU Resources Foundation

Rotary EClub of District 5010

Sysco Food Services of Alaska*

Thomas, Head & Greisen, PC*

Turnagain Church of Christ

AND T STINNETT-HERCZEG • CALVIN AND TERESA CLEMENTS • CAMERON BENOIT • CARL OLSON • CARL PORTMAN • CARLA BERGSTROM • CARLA BURKHEAD • CAROL AND MARK STAMM • CAROL WYMAN • CAROLYN AND BOB COVINGTON • CAROLYN E. JONES • CHANDRA PREATOR • CHARLAINE SKEEL • CHARLOTTE SARTOR • CHERYL AND BENJAMIN WESTLEY • CHERYL LOVEGREEN • CHESTER MARK • CHRISTINA HENDRICKSON • CHRISTINA HUBER • CHRISTINE AND STEVE THENO • CHRISTINE SCHULTZ • CHRISTOPHER FEHRMAN • CHRISTY ROCKWELL • CLAIRE AND JOHN LECLAIR • CLAUDIA RUSSELL • CLINTON CAMPION • COLIN BLAIR • COLLEEN BRIDGE AND MICHAEL MOEGLEIN • CONNIE AND KERRY OZER • CONNIE PLUMLEY • CONNIE THOMAS • CONSTANCE MARKIS • COREY KEMP • DAMIEN STELLA • DAN AND TRACI MCCUE • DANA PENNER • DANIEL AND KATE CONSENSTEIN • DANIEL JONES • DANIEL OTTENBREIT • DARCY HICKMAN • DAVID AND DONNALEE SINCLAIR • DAVID AND LORI VERBRUGGE • DAVID CARUFEL AND P. EDMOND-CARUFEL

• DAVID FLECKENSTEIN • DAVID ROBY • DAVID SCHROYER AND MELINDA WILLIS • DAVID STAMP • DAVID STORY • DEANNA KILBURN AND EUGENE MILLS • DEBORAH AND SCOTT NASPINSKY • DEBRA AND DAN DAILEY

• DEBRA MASON • DEREK HEDSTROM • DEREK ILES • DEREK WALTON • DIANA AND DAVID EVANS • DIANA LINCKE • DIXIE HUDISH • DONALD AND LIN MAY • DONALD AND MARY HARTMAN • DONALD RAMEY

• DONNA LINDSAY • DONNA NAIL • DOROTHY SINE • DOUGLAS AND DONNA MILLS • DOUGLAS AND JOANNE WHITE • DOUGLAS CAUSEY • DOUGLAS SMITH • DR. MICHAEL HIDEK AND MRS. KATHERINE WALLMAN-HIDEK • ELAINE AND MIKE TODD • ELAINE HUGHES • ELEANOR ANDREWS • ELIZABETH FUNK • ELIZABETH MANNING AND JOHN PEARCE • ELLA- KATE SHOWERS • ELLEN LACHICOTTE • ELLEN WARD

• EMILIE NYBERG AND JOSEPH TURAK • EMMA COLEMAN • ERICA AND GREGORY COLEMAN • ERICKA MOORE • ERIK DAHL • ERIN AND FLORIAN BOROWSKI • ERIN AND GERALD MANLEY • ERIN RAINWATER • ERIN RUBELMANN • EVERETT AND CAROL REED • FAISAL NABI • FEDERICO ABAINZA • FRANKLIN AND KATHLEEN BETHARD • FRED AND CATHY JANVRIN • GABRIELE AND GARY PETERSON • GARY COOPER • GARY MARTIN • GAYLE AND WILLIAM SOULE • GEORGE CROWLEY • GLEN WILLIAMS • GLENN OLSON • GLORIA MASARIC AND LARRY JOHNSON • GRAYLIN SIMES • GREGORY WILKINSON • GWENYTH CRABTREE • HANNAH JOHNSON • HAROLD AND ELIZABETH THOMPSON • HEATHER ARUFFO • HEATHER HENDERSON • HEATHER KENDALL AND LLOYD B. MILLER • HEATHER TAUSCHEK AND JOHN EVANS • HEIDI AND STEVEN FROST • HENRY JEROME • HILLARY JACQUES • HILLSIDE LAW OFFICE • HOLLY MITCHELL • HOLLY NUNN • ISAAC GAGE • IVY SPOHNHOLZ AND TROY BOWLER • JACKIE BONDE • JACKIE BONDE • JACQUELINE PFLAUM • JAMES ROBSON • JAMES SWIFT • JANA HAYENGA • JASPER AND EVA • JAYNIE AND JOHN ALEXANDER • JEAN BOGA • JEANETTE ALAS • JEDEDIAH SMITH • JEFFREY PEARSON • JENEFER BELL • JENNA GRUENSTEIN • JENNIFER AND MICHAEL SMULSKI • JENNIFER CHAMBERS • JENNIFER SIVILS • JENNY RAY • JESSIE LAVOIE • JHYSHAIN WEE • JILLIAN SIMPSON • JIM AND SHARON BALDWIN • JO ANN AND RICKY NELSON • JOAN OLMSTEAD • JO-ANN MELLISH • JOANNA MARSHALL • JOEL KADARAUCH • JOHN AND DAWN WALSH • JOHN AND DIXIE ARMSTRONG • JOHN AND JANET AMES • JOHN AND TAMARA HALVERSON • JOHN CACY • JOHN DAMBERG • JOHN HAVELOCK • JOHN HEIMERL AND HEIDI MCCROSKEY • JOHN HERRON AND HOLLY HOBBY • JOHN KARLSEN AND JOANNE ATTUNGANA-KARLSEN • JOHN KOKESH • JOHN THORNLEY • JOHN YORDY AND MAGDALENA ACEVEDO DE YORDY • JOLENE HURD • JOLYNN BLANCHER • JON ZASADA • JONAS WALKER AND BARBARA BUNDY • JOSEPH LIVINGSTON • JOSEPH M. JOYNER, III • JOSEPH SPEARS • JOSEPH VAN DE MARK AND SZILVIA SALAMON • JUDITH KEPES • JUDY AND GLEN WARDLE • JULI LUCKY AND JON BITTNER • JULIA COYLE

• JULIA GARRIGUES • JULIA PLOTNIK • JULIE BLADEL • JULIE CASTLE • JULIE KLASSY • KAITLYN AND COLTEN JARED • KARA SORBEL • KAREN AND BEN PADGETT • KAREN BENDLER • KAREN

VEZINA • KARI BERNARD • KASHA CACY • KATHLEEN AND DALE TUMEY • KATHLEEN HAMMAKER • KATHLEEN MILLS • KATHLEEN WORTHLEY • KATHRYN AND MARK SANDBERG • KATHRYN FRIEND AND STEVE EX • KATHRYN SCHILD • KATHRYN YODER • KATRINA HALL • KATY SODEN • KELLY CORRIGAN • KELLY DAUGHERTY • KENNETH AND CYNTHIA HIGGINS • KEVIN DE MICHELIS • KEVIN MCCOY AND MARY GEDDES

• KEVIN STANGE

• KIANA AND DAVID ELLER

• KIMBERLEY GRAY

• KIMBERLY BASSETT • KIRSTEN AND STEVEN KOLB

• KIRSTEN GAROUTTE

• KIRSTEN KINEGAK-FRIDAY

• LARS JOHNSON

• LANA AND CHARLES SIZEMORE • LANA DAILEY

• KYRA SHERWOOD

• KRISTI FULLER

• KRISTA KANDRICK

• KORYNN GRELLA

• KJELL JOHNSON

• KIRSTEN SIKORA

• LAURA BONNER

• LINDA AND MICHAEL GEPHARDT

• LINDA AND KIRK SHIVELY

• LESLIE SCOTT

• LEIGH AND KATHERINE HUBBARD

• LAUREL RENKET AND ZAK MELMS

• LINDA DOMJAN

• LINDA KUMIN

• LISA FARBER

• LYLE AND KRISTEN STOHLER

• MAIRI FRASER

• MARA AND PATRICK CARNAHAN

• MARAH GOTCSIK

• MARCIA HONEA

• MARCUS AND INGRID REESE

• MARGARET AND SHERMAN BEAR

• MARGARET KURZBARD

• MARIAN POUND

• MARIKA ATHENS

• MARILYN KAMM

• MARK AND JUDITH MADDEN

• MARK ARKENS

• MARK MCCARTAN

• MARNIE JONES

• MARTHA AND CARL SIEBE

• MARY AND BRIAN DUFFY

• MARY FITZGERALD

• MARY HACKER

• MARY LU HARLE • MARYANN

• MATTHEW AND LINDSEY JOLLY

• MARYLOU VANDERBURG

DEPRIEST • MARYANN ROWE

• MATTHEW HANSEN • MATTHEW LAZARUS • MAURICE AND COLEEN GROSSO • MEGHAN HOLTAN

• MELANIE BROWN • MELISSA AND IAN HEUER

• MELISSA ELMORE

• MICHAEL HENRICH • MICHAEL OVERDORFF • MICHELLE WADE

• MIRIAM ROBERTS • MITCHELL ROHLOFF • MR. AND MRS. ROGER MILLER • MR. AND MRS. SCOTT BOHNE

• NANCY AND CLIFF DOCKTER

• NANCY GROSZEK •

• PAMELA JENKINS • PAMEL

• NORA MATELL • PAIGE BECKER

• NEIL MCMAHON AND ERICA COADY

• NATHAN LARSON-ALEXANDER

NANCY UTPADEL

ARICHTER • PATRICIA ABNEY • PATRICIA ECKERT • PATRICK STOWELL • PAUL ADASIAK

• PAUL AND MARILYNN CHEVALIER

• PAUL SMITH • PAULA

• PILI GODDARD-VAUGHAN

• PETER JANOUT • PETER MARINICH

• PETER HOPKINS

• PETER HARDY

• PETER BURKE AND VALERIE PHELPS

ZAWODNY

• RACHAEL BALL • RACHEL AND DION BATRES

• RANDY TOMSON AND LEANNE FLICKINGER-TOMSON • REBECCA SHESTAKOV • REED

• RICHARD AND SALLY CARTER

NYGREN • RHONDA GROVEW

• RICHARD MILLER

• ROBERT BUSEY

• ROBERT KAPKE

• ROBERT MARTIN

• ROBIN AND DAVID WAHTO

• ROBIN AND KIMBERLY HAMELIN

• ROBYN AND NICK CASSARA

• RODNEY AND CATHY CREW

• SAMANTHA SPRAKER

• SANDRA

• SAMANTHA FORD

• RUSSELL AND KATHY HOWELL

• ROSS AND ASHLEIGH OLIVER

VAN DYCK

• SANDRA WICKS

• SARAH AND GARRETT BURTNER

• SARAH MOYERS

• SEN TAN AND AVERIL LERMAN • SHAMAN TRAFFIC CONTROL, LLC

• SHAMESE RUTHERFORD

• SHANNON VELEZ • SHAUN BAINES • SHAWNA COOKE

• SHELI DODSON

• SHERRY ECKRICH AND PAUL WINKEL

• SHONTI ELDER

• STANLEY FLAGEL

• STEPHEN AND MICHELLE

• STEPHANIE JOANNIDES

• STEFAN SIGURDSON

Knowledge Needs Nutrition

"I had two students come to me and their counselor and inform us they were living on their own and were struggling with paying for food, gas etc. They were living with his parents but had been kicked out due to a disagreement. The girl stated she had no family here and had been couch surfing for quite some time before moving in with her boyfriend.

I was informed the only meals readily available to them were at school. Their counselor was able to help them with gas cards to get to and from school and work, and because of Food Bank of Alaska’s Knowledge Needs Nutrition (KNN) program I was able to provide meals for them for after school and the weekends, as well as the in-service days that we have. Some of the kids became aware of other classmates being in need of items. They have been bringing things in to me so that we can prepare essential item bags for them. Noticing that I had a lot of food from KNN, they helped me bring it in, unpack it and place it in the areas where we store the food. They also helped me pack after school bags for the kids who need it the most. These kids began advocating for the ones who need the additional help by showing them where it is and who to come to for assistance. Even making sure that the kids who do need the food do not feel embarrassed by asking. They have purchased out of their own money drawstring bags, ziplock bags, and donated reusable bags so that the kids do not feel singled out when they grab items."

Reporting from the school nurse, Benny Benson Alternative High School

Our Mission

Food Bank of Alaska is dedicated to eliminating hunger in Alaska by obtaining and providing food to partner agencies feeding hungry people and through anti-hunger leadership. We believe that no one deserves to be hungry.

907.272.3663

foodbankofalaska.org