Blood-n-Fire Ministry offering drive-thru food pantry

WASILLA— Blood-n-Fire Ministry of Alaska is currently serving meals out of its food pantry through a socially distant drive-thru service.

According to Executive Director Karey Gaston, Blood-n-Fire serves between 400 to 500 families a month out of its food pantry.

“We’re open. We’re there to serve,” Gaston said.

Blood-n-Fire is a faith based organization that offers a range of services, supporting local homeless as well as individuals and families in crisis.

Blood-n-Fire was established in 2005 and currently operates out of the Meadow Lakes Plaza, assisting locals with a food and clothing pantry, and crisis intervention services like homeless prevention and transitional housing for both men and women called the Knik House.

According to Gaston, Blood-n-Fire moved from serving food twice a week to once a week to offer a more “streamlined” and socially distant experience. She said the food pantry is open to anyone in need of food with no need to meet certain requirements.

Gaston said they’re serving an increased rate of clients. She said that she expects the numbers to climb over the next couple of months due to the financial strains caused by the pandemic.

“Because we have a lot of people that wouldn’t normally go to a food pantry. They’re starting to come. There’s quite a few of those,” Gaston said.

Blood-n-Fire had to shut down their food pantry, clothing pantry and transitional housing services due to a possible exposure at the Knik House on March 15.

Gaston said they quarantined all the Knik House residents on a mandatory lock down. She said they weren’t able to reopen until July 3, but all residents tested negative for COVID-19. She noted that their program director left in November due to testing positive, but he recently returned to the job, and there hasn’t been any other positives since then.

“We want to keep our staff volunteers and members of the community safe as possible,” Gaston said. “We’re serious about keeping people safe and clean.”

The clothing pantry has remained closed due to the continued rise in cases, according to Gaston. She said that she wants to open it back by July, and it will likely be by appointment only. She said that will give her time to build up their inventory of new clothing donated by the community.

Gaston said that she’s been involved with Blood-n-Fire since the beginning. She said its main mission is to feed, clothe and shelter people in need. While it is a ministry, Blood-n-Fire doesn’t offer any formal church services aside from those offered in the transitional housing program.

“We literally just help the people,” Gaston said.

Those looking to support Blood-n-Fire’s efforts are encouraged to make monetary, food or clothing donations. They’re also seeking local pastors or ministers for assistance with Friday services at the Knik House.

Blood-n-Fire Ministry of Alaska is located at 244 S. Sylvan Road, #21 in Wasilla. The food pantry drive thru is located in the back of the building, and it’s open every Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, call 907-864-0463 or visit bloodnfireak.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com