Government Shutdown

Where to Get Help

Find Food Near You

Food Bank of Alaska is a warehouse and does not distribute food directly to the public. We supply food to more than 150 partner agencies across the state, including food pantries, meal programs, and mobile food distributions that serve neighbors in their own communities.

Anchorage & Mat-Su:
View our Food Distribution Calendar to see upcoming distributions in Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley. Schedules may change, so check for updates before heading out.

If you’re in Anchorage, you can also visit AnchorageFood.org or call 211 to find nearby food pantries, meal programs, and mobile food distributions. Enter your ZIP code to see what’s available near you.

If you live outside Anchorage or Mat-Su, visit your local food pantry or call 211 for assistance finding resources in your community.

Get Help with SNAP
If you receive or are applying for SNAP (formerly known as food stamps), we can help answer questions and connect you to resources.

📱 Text SNAP to 907-891-8913 or email snap@foodbankofalaska.org for support.

First time using food assistance?
This blog post explains how food assistance works, what to expect when visiting a food pantry, and other helpful information for first-time visitors.

Latest Update and SNAP Funding Timeline

Congress has passed a bill to reopen the federal government, with the president expected to sign it. The package funds USDA and programs like SNAP, WIC and TEFAP through September 30, 2026, and includes a short-term resolution for remaining departments through January 30, 2026. 

USDA has confirmed that most states will receive SNAP funds within 24 hours of the government reopening. Timing will vary by state. Even with this good news, families are still dealing with confusing and changing information about when benefits will load onto EBT cards.

The shutdown’s impact continues. Federal employees will get back pay, but many federal contractors will not. Alaska’s civilian and military workers could also face another disruption in February without a long-term funding deal.

Impact in Alaska

As the shutdown nears its seventh week, Food Bank of Alaska and our network of 150 partner agencies are seeing record demand. About 12,000 federal employees in Alaska have missed paychecks, and many have turned to local food pantries. Questions also remain around WIC funding.

SNAP is essential for about 66,000 Alaskans, including 1 in 5 children. For every 1 meal Food Bank of Alaska provides, SNAP provides 9. When federal programs are disrupted, our network becomes the safety net, and need rises fast.

Media across the country continue to highlight long lines and urgent need. As families recover and head into the holidays, Food Bank of Alaska will keep delivering stability and support to our network across Alasak..

🤎 Donate Now to help keep food moving to families across Alaska as our community recovers from the shutdown and Typhoon Halong.

How to Help

Give Food

You can make a big impact by donating nonperishable food to help Alaskans facing hunger.

Here’s how to give:

You can make a big impact by donating nonperishable food to help Alaskans facing hunger. Explore the following options to give food below:

Food Bank of Alaska Warehouse
Drop off food donations at our Anchorage warehouse during regular business hours:
2192 Viking Drive, Anchorage
Monday–Friday, 8am–4pm

For your convenience, we also have an after-hours food donation bin.

Partner Agencies
You can also donate food directly to one of our partner agencies in your community.
🔗 Find a Partner Agency Near You

Host a Food Drive
Bring people together to collect shelf-stable foods for Alaskans in need. Hosting a food drive is a simple and rewarding way to make a difference — at work, school, or in your neighborhood.
📦 Host a Food Drive

Give Voice

When Alaskans are affected by federal decisions, our communities feel it. We invite you to contact your members of Congress and urge them to work together to reopen the federal government and restore essential programs like SNAP that help families put food on the table.

Across Alaska, federal employees, families, and local food pantries are feeling the strain of the shutdown. Your voice can help bring attention to the real people behind the headlines and ensure food access remains a priority.

Contact Congress Now

Use Feeding America’s simple tool to contact your elected officials. Your message will be automatically sent to your lawmakers, and you can personalize it to share why this matters to you and your community.

Give Money

Your gift makes a powerful difference. For every $1 donated, Food Bank of Alaska can help provide two nutritious meals to families in need.

These meals mean more than food—they mean focus for a child at school, strength for a mom working the night shift, and stability for a senior choosing between groceries and medicine. Your generosity truly transforms lives.

You can make a one-time gift or become a monthly donor to help ensure our neighbors have consistent access to the food and support they need.

Give Time

During the government shutdown, volunteers are essential to keeping food moving across Alaska. Whether you’re sorting and packing food at our Anchorage warehouse or helping at local food distributions, your time makes an immediate impact for families affected by missed paychecks, SNAP delays, and reduced federal services.

Volunteer Requirements

• Volunteers must be 12 years or older for all onsite shifts at Food Bank of Alaska.

• All volunteers must complete a liability waiver before volunteering.

• Minors must have the waiver signed by a parent or guardian.

Your time helps Alaskans weather this uncertain season.