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 Anchorage church leaders and community volunteers, Food Bank of Alaska began with a simple belief: food should not go to waste and no Alaskan should go hungry.

Nearly five decades later, that spirit of neighbors helping neighbors still defines our work. Today, we partner 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 care for each other. We help 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 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

We Rescue and Distribute Food

We partner with grocery retailers, wholesalers, farmers and Alaska’s fishing industry to recover surplus food that might otherwise go to waste. That food is sorted, stored and distributed through our network of more than 150 partner agencies across over 200 communities.

In 2025 alone, 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. We connect 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

We work alongside partners across the state to advance policies and solutions that reduce hunger long term. From convening coalitions to informing lawmakers, we elevate community voices and advocate for systems that ensure food is accessible and affordable for all Alaskans.

As Alaska’s only partner food bank in the Feeding America network, we leverage national resources, data and advocacy expertise to strengthen our work locally.

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 Secured

We source food from grocery retailers, wholesalers, Alaska’s fishing industry, farmers, food drives and USDA programs.

Each year, millions of pounds of food move through our network because of these partnerships.

Food Is Sorted and Stored

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

In the past year alone, volunteers contributed 18,860 hours of service, helping keep food moving efficiently.

Food Is Distributed

We coordinate deliveries across Alaska, supporting more than 150 partner agencies in over 200 communities, from Ketchikan to Point Lay.

Our logistics network ensures food reaches urban, rural and remote areas where access can be complex and costly.

Food Reaches Alaskans in Need

Through this statewide network, food reaches families, children and older adults every day.

Food on the table is foundational infrastructure for a healthy Alaska.

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 7 Alaskans, including 1 in 5 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

Volunteers Power the Mission

Volunteers are essential to Food Bank of Alaska’s work statewide. From sorting donations and packing meals to cleaning crates and supporting mobile food pantries, their time ensures food moves efficiently to communities across Alaska.

In the past year alone:

1,400 volunteers contributed their time
18,860 hours of service were given
That is equal to the work of 9 full-time staff members

Volunteers are not an add-on to our operations. They are a critical part of how we distribute millions of pounds of food each year and support more than 150 partner agencies across the state.

Become a Volunteer