Impact of Community Members on Mat-Su Food Bank

The Mat-Su Food Bank experienced an increased demand in 2025 to provide services to those in need throughout the Valley. Because of the generosity of the community, the Mat-Su Food Bank can continue their work and strive to make the Valley healthier and safer for all.

“We wouldn't exist without the community,” Executive Director Fred Becker said.

Addressed in a recent article, the Mat-Su Food Bank received $24,290 in funding from the Three Bears Alaska Shop with a Purpose campaign. They have received roughly $50,000 from donations through Three Bears alone in the previous year. Partnering with local businesses and foundations allows the Mat-Su Food Bank to continue to provide for the community.

One of the latest additions to the food pantry is the personal hygiene corner. Becker wanted to provide this new opportunity last year and said it has been a huge success. Those who visit the food pantry have access to a vast array of personal hygiene products. Three Bears has donated over $8,000 towards this effort in the last year.

“It’s off the charts,” Becker said. “Every single family that comes through stops at that corner and is always selecting something.”

These types of donations received from the community go into an unrestrictive fund. While the Mat-Su Food Bank can receive grants to purchase items for the pantry, they can’t necessarily use those funds to cover fuel to pick up food, pay for electricity, heat or a reasonable wage for employees. The Mat-Su Food Bank recently hired two new staff members.

“That’s instrumental in allowing us to continue to operate and expand our capability and our infrastructure and capacity,” Becker said.

From 2024 to 2025, the Mat-Su Food Bank saw an increase of 27% in households and individuals served. There was also a 136% increase in SNAP recipients and a 32% increase in senior boxes. There was an increase of 139% of food that they provided to roughly 30 partner agencies and a total distribution through the Betty White Food Pantry of 2.2 million pounds of food in 2025.

One of the three umbrellas that the food bank operates under is Food for Kids. Throughout the summer and with partners like Global Credit Union, Northrim Bank and Credit Union 1, this program distributes free meals to youth in the Valley when students are out of school. There was a 30% increase last year in meals provided.

The Mat-Su Food Bank has partnered with the Food Bank of Alaska and is working to become a redistribution organization for them. This would allow the food bank to utilize relationships with Feeding America to receive assistance from larger retailers in the Valley.

Future growth includes working with local farmers to purchase produce that not only provides quality food to those in need, but also fosters a local agricultural economy. Becker said he would also like to work with farmers to utilize any wasted produce to be reused as compost or animal feed.

“We’re looking to be a good community partner with them and help farmers within Alaska,” Becker said.

The food bank is also looking to expand their food rescue program, where they can pick up items from fast food restaurants and businesses across the Valley to be redistributed.

The Mat-Su Food Bank is open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Several Friday evenings and Saturdays will also be available to better serve those who cannot make it in during normal hours. Those dates and times can be found on the Mat-Su Food Bank website at: https://matsufoodbank.org/ Financial donations and physical donations of food items and volunteer time are always accepted and more information can also be found on the website.

“We hope that we are a good community partner,” Becker said. “We serve with dignity and respect, because we all know that we all could be one paycheck away from being in need ourselves.”