Blood-n-Fire Ministry

A faith-based nonprofit organization has been quietly working for two decades to improve the lives of the hungry, the homeless, and the poor in the Mat-Su community.

Meadow Lakes-based Blood-n-Fire Ministry of Alaska opened its doors in 2005 with a mission to “reach the lost with the love of God and the message of Jesus … providing food, clothing and shelter for the poor, and offering a place where anyone can come rebuild their broken life and be restored to hope, self-worth and purpose.” By partnering with other area nonprofits, Blood-n-Fire has expanded its reach and its range of services over the years.

Most recently, with the assistance of the Mat-Su Health Foundation, the organization’s transitional housing program – Knik House – for men, women, single parents, and the re-entry population has really taken root. Karey Gaston, Blood-n-Fire’s executive director, said the program has helped many move from homelessness to stable independence by providing not only a safe and sober place to live, but also basic training in life and employment skills.

“Knik House is a solution-based, goal-oriented program that brings solutions to chronic homelessness, poverty, and crisis,” she said.

Since its inception in 2014, Knik House has grown to a multi-site program that has served hundreds of men and women. A $700,000 grant in January from the Mat-Su Health Foundation has helped the program move to next level by providing the funding needed to purchase formerly leased property for Knik House.

The health foundation has been seeding nonprofit success stories since 2008, when its grant program began. As part owner of the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, the foundation is able to channel its profits into the community. With more than $130 million invested in the Mat-Su in the last 16 years, the foundation remains a formidable partner in community health and wellness, while continuing to do its part to endure that the medical center meets the needs of the Valley’s growing population.

That includes the homeless population that Knik House and Blood-n-Fire serves. Gaston said the ability to purchase the property for their transitional housing service eliminates lease payments and frees up resources to help in other areas.

“Words cannot express the thankfulness we have for the support of the Mat-Su Health Foundation,” Gaston said. “Without that support, Blood-n-Fire and Knik House would not be what we are today.”

She said she knows that sentiment is widespread among the Valley’s nonprofit community, which she is in regular contact with through a multi-agency partnership formed in 2012 to distribute the Homeless Assistance Prevention grant. That partnership includes Valley Charities, Family Promise, Daybreak Inc., Salvation Army, My House, and Alaska Family Services.

Gaston said from 2012 to 2024 Blood-n-Fire alone has helped 2,346 individuals and 634 families remain housed.

“All of this wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing partners we get to work with daily to see the Mat-Su blessed,” she said. “Part of our mission statement is to offer a place where people can come to rebuild their lives and be restored to hope and self-worth. We have offered this program to our community, and now it is fulfilling our mission.”

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https://bloodnfireak.org/