Mat-Su Food Bank moving forward with plenty of inventory

WASILLA— The Mat-Su Food Bank is fairing well through the pandemic, according to Executive Director Eddie Ezelle. He said they’re able to keep up with the high demand for food with their ample inventory of locally donated and government issued items that are spread across the community.

“We’ve got food, which is good,” Ezelle said.

The Mat-Su Food Bank’s food pantry in Wasilla is serving an average of 2,200 people a month, according to Ezelle. He said that doesn’t include the amount of food they supply to local pantries around the Valley. He said they’re up to 133,000 pounds of food distributed so far.

“We’re not even at the end of the year yet. So, we’re moving a lot of food,” Ezelle said.

The Knik Tribal Council recently donated a surplus of locally raised chickens to pantries across the Valley, including the Mat-Su Food Bank.

“It was nice of Knik to share with us like that,” Ezelle said.

In addition to the chickens, the Mat-Su Food Banks is also receiving a steady supply of produce from local farms, including Glacier Valley Farm, who recently donated several pallets of onions. Ezelle said that Vanderweele Farms donates potatoes throughout the year, offering other crops like carrots when available. Ezelle noted that other groups like AMVETS and the VFW have also been helpful during this time.

The Mat-Su Food Bank started a new program this year. They partnered with WASI to provide Senior Boxes to local elderly residents. Ezelle said they’re currently working with about 70 seniors.

The Mat-Su Food Bank is also participating in the Farmers to Families Food Boxes initiative through the USDA’s Coronavirus food assistance program.

“It’s a nice box for a family, it really is; just a nice variety of things people need,” Ezelle said.

The pandemic has slowed the Mat-Su Food Bank’s latest milestone, a new and permanent location just a few miles down from its current headquarters off Bogard Road. Ezelle said they’ve been planning this transition for the last five or six years. He said they hoped to be there by now, but the move has been delayed until at least March.

“It will be a permanent home for us,” Ezelle said.

Ezelle said their warehouse in the Knik Goose Bay area is “stuffed full” with food from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). He said the new facility will have about twice as much space as their current office and warehouse combined, so they’ll be able to consolidate their inventory to a single location.

“We’ve outgrown this for quite a while,” Ezelle said.

Ezelle noted that the holiday season is normally when the demand for food starts to increase due to seasonal layoffs in fields like construction and fishing. He said that he hasn’t noticed any “major” increases in demand, but anticipates a change after the New Year.

“I figure about January or February it’s gonna start hitting people, because they won’t have the stimulus checks… whatever job or job benefits might run out,” Ezelle said.

The Mat-Su Food Bank is the largest food pantry in the Valley. It also provides food and other resources for annual events like the Thanksgiving Blessing and the upcoming Christmas Friendship Dinner at the Menard Center.

“We do a lot of stuff in the background that people don’t know about,” Ezelle said. “We’re their local food bank. We serve all of the Mat-Su… We need to give credit when credit is due. There’s a lot of people who’ve supported us over the years and worked very hard for us. We need to let them know their efforts aren’t unnoticed.”

According to Ezelle, the Mat-Su Food Bank’s total number of volunteers is down about two thirds. He said this trend can be seen at the various nonprofits across the Valley thanks to COVID-19.

“All of us are lacking volunteers,” Ezelle said.

Ezelle said the food bank has been open throughout the pandemic and plans to stay open by maintaining proper social distancing and sanitation efforts. He said they only have three volunteers onsite at a time.

“We’re considered an essential service,” Ezelle said. “For us to close down, that would be devastating.”

Josh Juell recently started volunteering at the food bank. He said that he’s between jobs and felt this would be a good use of his time.

“Might as well. I’ve got nothing better to do,” Juell said with a laugh.

Juell noted that this is the time to volunteer at the food bank. He said that anyone else like him who’s out of work should consider signing up. He said that even volunteering one day a week would be incredibly helpful to the cause.

“They need help with all kinds of stuff, this time of year especially. Between COVID and the holidays and everything else going on, it’s tough for people,” Juell said. “It’s super important. It’s a good way to help out... With COVID, I completely understand. The cool thing about this place is, if you’re really worried, give ‘em your parameters and they’ll work with ya.”

According to Ezelle, people tend to be more generous with donations during the holiday season, but the support tends to falter after that.

“It’s great they think of us during the holidays, but we need help year round,” Ezelle said.

The biggest way people can help right now is by making monetary donations, according to Ezelle. He implored Valley residents to keep their donations in the Valley, whether it’s to the Mat-Su Food Bank or their community’s designated pantry.

“I usually tell people to support what’s near you,” Ezelle said.

The Mat-Su Food Bank serves food five days a week from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. To accommodate social distancing, only two clients are permitted inside the building at a time.

For more information, call 907-357-3769 or visit matsufoodbank.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com