Ending childhood hunger all in a day’s work

On the cusp of its second decade, a Mat-Su nonprofit organization is at the vanguard of battling childhood hunger in the borough.

Founded in 2016, Kids Kupboard has sought to lift food-insecure local youth by keeping them fed with fresh and nutritious meals at no cost to their families. In 2025 alone, the group distributed nearly 78,000 healthy meals to 3,374 children, and was named the nonprofit of the year by the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce.

Through a growing mobile meal route and trusted community partnerships, meals are delivered directly to neighborhoods and locations where children already gather. Chris Haugom, the third person to serve as executive director of Kids Kupboard, said community support makes it possible for meals to reach kids who might otherwise go without.

These children live in households where income levels fall below the poverty line and parents are doing everything they can to keep food on the table. Community support makes it possible for meals to reach many kids who might otherwise go without.

“Unfortunately, there are over 7,500 children in the Mat-Su Valley that are considered to be food insecure,” he said. “Fortunately, we have made our way to almost half of them. But there is still unmet demand.”

Haugom said Kids Kupboard gets no state or federal assistance to help meet that demand. The organization relies on help from volunteers and income from fundraising, sponsorships, donations, and grants.

A November grant from the Mat-Su Health Foundation provided a current boost. The funding helps cover the expense of food, supplies, and overall operations, helping to send the message that every meal served is a reminder that the community cares.

“Money from the Mat-Su Health Foundation is crucial for us to continue reaching more children,” Haugom said. “Without them, we wouldn’t be able to reach the number of children we are currently able to reach.”

Originally created as the Valley Hospital in 1948, the nonprofit Mat-Su Health Foundation has been making investments in community health and wellness since 2007, when it became part owner of the new Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. Since that time, while working to ensure the hospital continues to meet the needs of a diverse and growing population, the Foundation has invested more than $160 million of its share of hospital profits in the community through scholarships, sponsorships, and grants to other nonprofit organizations around the Valley, like Kids Kupboard.

“I can’t say enough good things about the Mat-Su Health Foundation and its entire staff,” Haugom said. “They have been one of our largest advocates, and, man, do we appreciate everyone involved with the Foundation.”

He noted the scope of the good work being done by nonprofits around the Mat-Su and the role the Health Foundation plays in helping to improve the quality of life across the borough.

“The Mat-Su Health Foundation’s value to the community isn’t even measurable,” Haugom said. “They have done so many amazing things for the Valley and are always so eager to help. We are just so incredibly fortunate to have them supporting the community in so many ways.”

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www.kidskupboard.org