Food banks forecast increased need

Gas prices are taking a bite out of Mat-Su Valley residents’ household budgets, and the Food Pantry of Wasilla, 501 E. Bogard Road, is feeling the impact, too.

Monthly, the organization provides food to an average of 3,400 people. And staff at a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday for the food bank’s new walk-in freezer say they expect demand to increase along with gas prices this summer.

What would gas prices above $5 a gallon this summer mean for the Mat-Su Valley? More people will need more help with basic necessities of life, like food, utilities and rent. Tighter household budgets also will mean some families are pushed into homelessness, too.

Food Pantry of Wasilla Executive Director Eddie Ezelle said the 12-foot by 14-foot walk-in freezer, installed by Dave Wolfe and the staff of Wolf Refrigeration in Wasilla, can store more than six pallets of food and will help the food bank function more efficiently.

The purchase and installation of the new $25,000 freezer was funded by a Rasmuson Foundation grant.

The Wasilla food bank is one of a dozen food banks in the Mat-Su Borough.

Among the items most continuously needed are baby food, cake mixes, sugar, flour, instant puddings, Jell-O products, instant powdered milk, coffee, tea bags, macaroni and cheese, soups, Ramen noodles, pasta, canned tuna, salmon or chicken, instant potatoes, stuffing, crackers, cookies, condiments, canned goods of all kinds, rice, dry beans, tomato sauce, paper towels, bathroom tissue and soap.

If you aren’t sure what help might be available locally, call 211 and the United Way’s Community Resource folks will tell you what local nonprofits might be able to help your family.

We are grateful for the good work of the Valley’s many volunteer organizations. We know that the assistance you offer helps many of our neighbors stay in their homes, feed their families and that helps their kids get a good education.

That’s something that should make us all proud.

Food bank contact information:

And each food pantry has different hours and eligibility requirements.

Whether you need help or care to offer help, here is the contact information for the food banks in the Mat-Su Borough:

• Family Christian Center, 203 W. Dogwood Ave. Palmer. Call 373-2617.

• Food Pantry of Wasilla, 501 Bogard Rd., Wasilla. Call 357-3769.

• Blood N Fire Ministries of Alaska, Wasilla. Call 864-0463.

• Hilltop Assembly of God, Mile 59.7 Parks Hwy., Houston. Call 892-6225.

• Mid-Valley Seniors, 11975 W. Mid-Valley Way, Big Lake. Call 892-6114.

• Palmer Food Bank, 221 S. Valley Way, Palmer. Call 746-3565.

• S/A Mat-Su Valley Corps, 209 W Evergreen, Palmer. Call 745-7079.

• Trapper Creek Food Bank, No.1 Walstead Road, Mile 4.2 Talkeetna. Call 733-3358.

• Wasilla Area Senior Center, 1301 Century Circle, Wasilla. Call 376-3104.

• Wasilla Lake Church of the Nazarene, 2001 Palmer-Wasilla Hwy., Wasilla. Call 376-5439.

• Willow United Methodist Church, 67.8 Parks Hwy., Willow. Call 495-8292.