About Us

Neighbors Helping Neighbors Since 1979

Man and woman facing away from camera, filling white plastic bags outside with produce from a table.

Food Bank of Alaska was founded on a straightforward belief: food should not go to waste, and no Alaskan should go hungry.

In 1979, Anchorage church leaders and community volunteers turned that belief into action. Nearly five decades later, it still defines this work. Today, Food Bank of Alaska partners with more than 150 local agencies across over 200 communities. Each week, nearly 20,000 Alaskans access food through this network.

From Ketchikan to Point Lay, communities take care of each other. Food Bank of Alaska helps make that possible.

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 nobody deserves to be hungry.

Our Vision

A hunger-free Alaska. 🤎

According to Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap report, 1 in 7 Alaskans, including 1 in 5 children, experience food insecurity.

Food insecurity in Alaska is shaped by factors that don't exist everywhere — remote geography, high freight and grocery costs, extreme weather, and transportation barriers that make access difficult and expensive. This is why the work of Food Bank of Alaska and its partner agency network matters so much.

Learn more

How We Fight Hunger

We Rescue and Distribute Food

Food Bank of Alaska partners with grocery retailers, wholesalers, farmers and Alaska's fishing industry to recover surplus food that would otherwise go to waste. That food is sorted, stored and distributed through a statewide network of more than 150 partner agencies.

In 2025, Food Bank of Alaska sourced and distributed 10.1 million pounds of food — including 4.4 million pounds recovered through retail and wholesale partnerships.

We Strengthen Access to Nutrition

Food distribution is only part of the solution. Food Bank of Alaska connects Alaskans to federal nutrition programs like SNAP and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, helping families, children and older adults access consistent, reliable food purchasing power.

When public programs are strong, households are stronger.

We Lead and Advocate

Food Bank of Alaska works alongside partners across the state to advance policies that reduce food insecurity long term. From convening coalitions to informing lawmakers, we elevate community voices and advocate for systems that make food accessible and affordable for every Alaskan.

As Alaska’s only partner food bank in the Feeding America network, we bring national resources, data and advocacy expertise directly to our communities.

Leadership

Cara Durr became CEO of Food Bank of Alaska in 2024, bringing years of experience in hunger relief, policy advocacy and nonprofit strategy. Under her leadership, the organization has expanded programs, strengthened partnerships and deepened its commitment to ending food insecurity across Alaska.

Meet our full leadership team →

Volunteers

Volunteers are essential to this work — not as an add-on, but as a core part of how food moves across Alaska.

Last year, 1,400+ volunteers contributed 18,860 hours of service — the equivalent of 9 full-time staff members. They sort donations, pack food boxes, clean crates and support mobile food pantry sites across the state.

Become a Volunteer