Our Work
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
When school is out, children shouldn’t have to worry about where their next meal will come from. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)—a USDA Child Nutrition Program—ensures that kids 18 and younger continue to receive nutritious meals during the summer months.
Each year, Food Bank of Alaska sponsors meal distribution sites in rural communities, handling administrative tasks like training, recordkeeping, and logistics so that local sites can focus on feeding kids. A typical meal includes milk, two servings of fruits or vegetables, a grain, and a protein.
Meals to You (MTY)
Many rural Alaskan communities lack traditional summer meal sites. Meals to You, a partnership between the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development and Food Bank of Alaska, helps bridge that gap.
Through this demonstration project, eligible children in remote areas receive pre-packaged meal boxes delivered to their homes via the U.S. Postal Service. Each box contains up to 10 breakfasts and 10 lunches, all meeting the same high nutritional standards as SFSP meals.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
TEFAP helps connect surplus food with families facing hunger. The USDA purchases surplus food from farmers and distributes it to states, which then provide it to food banks and community partners.
In Alaska, the State partners with Food Bank of Alaska to distribute TEFAP commodities through food pantries across the state. TEFAP helps supplement the diets of people who qualify by providing them with food at no cost.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) – Senior Boxes
Good nutrition is essential at every stage of life. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)—also known as Senior Boxes—provides older adults (60+) with a monthly food box designed to supplement their diets.
Food Bank of Alaska works with partner agencies to distribute these boxes, which include USDA-approved foods such as grains, proteins, dairy, fruits, and vegetables. The program is administered by the State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Assistance, Family Nutrition Programs.
Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
From June 1 to October 31, low-income seniors in Alaska can access fresh, locally grown produce through the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. Participants receive coupons that can be exchanged for Alaska-grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey at approved farmers’ markets and roadside stands.
Food Rescue Program
Every day, food that is still perfectly good to eat is at risk of going to waste. Food Bank of Alaska’s Food Rescue Program ensures that surplus food gets to people who need it instead of ending up in landfills.
Our fleet of trucks recovers fresh, frozen, and non-perishable food from grocery stores, wholesalers, producers, farmers, and the fishing industry. We also collect food donations from individuals and purchase food in bulk. This food is then distributed to about 46 partner agencies in Anchorage and Mat-Su, ensuring families, children, and seniors have access to nutritious meals.
Mobile Food Pantry (MFP)
Fresh, nutritious food should be within reach for everyone. When Food Bank of Alaska receives perishable food donations—like fresh produce and dairy—we distribute them through our Mobile Food Pantries (MFPs).
Families who visit MFPs appreciate having access to fresh, healthy food that can be expensive at the store. We partner with 10 local agencies to run nine Mobile Food Pantry locations across Anchorage, bringing fresh food directly to communities.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) is a federally funded program that helps individuals and families buy groceries. Food Bank of Alaska helps Alaskans navigate the application process, ensuring more people can access the food they need.