Feeding Alaska since 1979

About Us

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

Founded in 1979 by a dedicated group of Anchorage churches and community volunteers, Food Bank of Alaska operates on the belief that no one should go hungry.

For more than 45 years, we’ve worked to connect people with nutritious food, prevent food waste, and advocate for long-term solutions to hunger across the state. Today, we partner with over 150 organizations to serve nearly 20,000 Alaskans every week, from Ketchikan to Point Lay.

Our Mission & Vision

Our mission is based on the same strong beliefs as those of our founders more than 45 years ago – no Alaskan should go hungry, we need to recover food that would be wasted otherwise, and we share what we have.

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.

Our Vision

A hunger-free Alaska.

Meet our team Job Openings

Cara Durr became the CEO of Food Bank of Alaska in 2024, bringing years of leadership 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 in Alaska.

Want to learn more about our leadership team and board of directors?

Meet our leadership team

How We Fight Hunger

Every day, Food Bank of Alaska works to ensure Alaskans have access to the food they need to thrive. Through a powerful network of food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, senior centers, and children’s programs, we distribute nearly 8 million pounds of food annually across the state.

We partner with grocery stores, wholesalers, farmers, and Alaska’s fishing industry to rescue surplus food that might otherwise go to waste—transforming it into nutritious meals for families facing hunger. In 2024 alone, we sourced 8.3 million pounds of food, with over 4.6 million pounds recovered through retail and wholesale partnerships.

Beyond food distribution, we connect people with vital nutrition programs like SNAP (food stamps) and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, helping families, children, and elders access consistent, reliable food.

Whether by distributing food, providing nutritional assistance, or advocating for policy changes, we are committed to fighting hunger statewide.

As a proud partner food bank of the Feeding America network, we join a nationwide movement working to end hunger across the U.S.—leveraging resources, expertise, and advocacy to better serve communities in need.

How Food Bank of Alaska Works

Every meal we provide starts with a community effort—whether it's donated food, volunteer time, or financial support. Here’s how it all comes together:

Donations are Made

We secure food from grocery stores, wholesalers, Alaska’s fishing industry, farmers, food drives, and USDA commodities.

Food is Stored

Our 74,000 square foot Anchorage warehouse serves as the hub for sorting, storing, and preparing food for statewide distribution.

Food is Distributed

We coordinate deliveries across Alaska, ensuring food reaches over 150 agency partners, from Ketchikan to Point Lay.

Food Reaches Alaskans in Need

Through our statewide network, food reaches families, children, and elders.

Read our latest Annual Report to see how your support helped provide millions of meals across Alaska.

Read the Report →

According to Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap report, 1 in 8 Alaskans, including 1 in 6 children, face hunger. This underscores the critical need to combat food insecurity in our state. Learn more about food insecurity and where these numbers came from in Feeding America’s most recent Map the Meal Gap report.

Learn more

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are essential to our mission. Whether sorting donations, packing meals, labeling salmon cans, cleaning crates or assisting at mobile food pantries, your time helps feed Alaskans in need.

View Opportunities