Bikers Fighting Hunger Food Drive organized to help battle food insecurity in the Valley

The Bikers Fighting Hunger Food Drive is from January through February each year to generate donations for the Mat-Su Food Bank. Bikers Fighting Hunger Food Drive Founder and Midnight Son Riders, Christian Motorcycle Association Member, Glen Butts, started the drive 14 years ago to address the food insecurity issue he was witnessing in the Valley.

“I went into the food bank and it was nearly empty,” Butts said. “They said they really get this dead zone after Christmas. Everyone is in a really giving mood up until then, and after that it just drops off.”

Butts took this information to the motorcycle club he was affiliated with at the time. He said the club wanted to give back to the community, and he thought that this would be a great option.

“The whole premise behind it was to help and try and get those food banks at least a little bit more stocked to help out more people,” Butts said.

Since then, the food drive has grown to include upwards of 50 individual volunteers and businesses, and two events each year.

“It’s just taken off,” Butts said.

Fred Becker is the executive director for the Mat-Su Food Bank and former Harley-Davidson shop owner. As part of the biking community, Becker said it’s been a great transition to go from participating in the food drive to working at Mat-Su Food Bank and witnessing its impact from both sides.

“I think the biking community is pretty strong and they give back to the community in many different ways,” Becker said. “This is a great way for them to give back to the need of food insecurity in the Valley.”

The Bikers Fighting Hunger food drive raises between 2,000 and 4,000 pounds of food each year and several hundred dollars in donations, Becker said. In 2024, the Mat-Su Food Bank gave out 1.6 million pounds of food, a 60% increase from 2023.

“It’s obvious that the need is there and our community is suffering from the high prices,” Becker said.

High food prices and inflation have contributed to food insecurity, even for households with multiple sources of income, Becker said. The Mat-Su Food Bank has also been receiving fewer donations than they have previously. Food drives like this one help to combat these issues. All of the donations raised with Bikers Fighting Hunger stay in the Mat-Su.

“What we collect in the Valley, stays in the Valley,” Becker said.

At their most recent fundraising event, “Let’s Taco Bout Harley” at the Denali Harley Davidson in Palmer, Bikers Fighting Hunger raised two bins worth of food and monetary donations. Butts said roughly 50 people were in attendance.

The annual Bikers Fighting Hunger spaghetti feed will be held at the Alano Club in Wasilla on Mar. 2 from 2-5pm, or until all of the food is gone Butts said. Larson’s Pizza has donated the spaghetti and pizza for this year’s event. Door prizes that have been donated from local businesses will be available for those in attendance. Admission to the event is 12 cans of food or $12 at the door. These events not only contribute donations for the food drive, but provide friends with a chance to reconnect and socialize, according to Butts.

“It gives back to the community and that’s one of those things I try to do as I can,” Butts said. “I just try and keep myself busy on being able to help people out, and this helps.”

Food collection bins and coin jars can be found in several businesses across the Valley, including Denali Harley-Davidson, Performance Yamaha, Alaska House of Yamaha, Spenard Builders Supply, Three Bears, the Extreme Fun Center, Coming Attractions Theater and Alaska Industrial Hardware.

The Mat-Su Food Bank is open Mon-Fri from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. and has no restrictions for people in need of food. Becker believes that healthy, nutritious food has a major positive impact on all aspects of life.

“I think food is medicine,” Becker said. “And the biker community up here understands that.”