It’s the generous time of year

We are all receiving our $ bounty from the State of Alaska. Many of us use the PFD it for necessities and many of us don’t. It’s a personal choice and we are all grateful for this cash infusion of state money every year. If you feel like sharing the wealth then there are many local ways to directly help our community of Palmer. I suggest you consider seriously what you personally support and then go share some jingle or volunteer directly. Many of these identified groups are small—without large bankrolls, grants or corporate backing. Here is a local crowd-sourced list of suggestions for Palmer philanthropy:

• Kids Kupboard—This group feeds children every day.

• Alaska Farmland Trust—helps to save farmlands and support farming. and keeps historic farmlands as green productive spaces.

• The Palmer Library—A public space, open to all.

• Big Cabbage Radio aka Radio Free Palmer which hosts local programming

• Matsu Ski and Snowboard Club—Open to everyone

• Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers—provides service and opportunities in Palmer areas

• Palmer Food Bank distributes food to the needy

• Alaska Family Services provides so many services to families. Salvation Army feeds and cares for needy people.

• Family Promise assists families in crisis

• Mat Su Special Santa collects toys and clothing for needy children

• Pay off kids’ school lunch accounts at any public school.

• Alaskans for Palmer Hayflats

• Mat Su Trails and Parks Foundation

• Mat Su Ski Club

• Skeetawk—A recently built community based resource

• Valley Center for Recycling

• The Yak offers a safe space for youth, after school

• Palmer Senior Center offers support and activity for elders

• Hospice—Ancora

• Valley Center for Recycling

• Family Promise of Mat Su

• The Salvation Army

• American Red Cross

• Grow Palmer Community Gardens

• Bright Lights Book Project—shares books freely

• Lions Club—many service projects

• Valley for Performing Arts

• Mat Su Concert Band

• Palmer Arts Council

• Palmer Community Foundation

• Alaska Wild Bird

• Animal Rescue Groups for dogs, cats, birds, pigs and horses including ADPR. Mat Su Animal Shelter; Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue, Mat Valley Kitties & Puppies Rescue

• Onward And Upward Organization provides experiential education

• Matsu Special Olympics

• Special Olympics Alaska Mat-Su Community

• Beacon Hill Safe Families for Children

• Connect Vets is a veteran-focused non-profit; money stays local

• The “Butte Angels” playground in the Butte

• Arctic Winter Games Mat-Su 2024

• Alaska Avalanche School

• Frontline Mission

• Heart-reach pregnancy center

• AKSSD Alaska Solstice Search Dogs which searches for missing persons.

• MATSAR search and rescue and Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team. They respond to almost every water or wilderness emergency in Palmer.

• Palmer Museum

• Palmer Historical Society

• Thrive Youth Group focuses on providing free activities for youth to help them avoid a destructive path.

• Giving Elders Care

• Matsu Steelers Youth football

• MyHouse

• Set Free AK

• Local sports teams provide gear for children who couldn’t otherwise afford to play

This week in Palmer—The Mat Su Concert Band is performing at the Glenn Massay Theater at the college on Saturday night, October 1. There is live music downtown and the Palmer Chamber of Commerce is having an Alaska Grown dinner and dessert auction on Saturday night at the Palmer Senior Center. There is a Ladies Night Outdoors hike on Thursday at 6pm meeting at the Plumley-Maud Trail. There is also the Aktive Soles Government Peak Rec Area hike on Thursday night. And don’t forget football…the Palmer Potato bowl is Friday night at Palmer High School with fireworks!

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. (She is working hard on the 2023 Palmer Community Calendar, which may be available in October.) Barbara shares the good stuff in the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz Column in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222