Pantry of the month: Sutton Bible Church Food Pantry

SUTTON— Starting this month, the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman will feature a story about a local food pantry, coordinating with the Mat-Su Food Coalition to highlight the various grassroots efforts. The Sutton Bible Church Food Pantry is kicking off the new series.

“I just think it’s an honor and a privilege to help people who are needing,” volunteer Valerie Pickle said.

As more Valley residents return to work, the overall need for food appears to be on a slight decline, according to Don Houk, chair of Mat-Su Food Coalition. He noted that social distancing restrictions are loosening across the state, but the overall demand for food in the Valley is still above normal, and the numbers are still very much subject to change looking forward.

Evelyn Davis, Sutton Bible Church Food Pantry director said that overall, they were not hit as hard as the bigger pantries across the Valley. She said there wasn’t any major spike in food demand, but they have seen a few new faces.

Davis has been involved since the pantry’s inception. She’s one of several volunteers who sort through rows of donated food items and distribute them to locals once a week from the church parking lot.

A handful of volunteers laughed as they worked, playfully bantering with each other Thursday, June 4.

“They all play an integral part,” Davis said.

Pickle said that she’s lived in Sutton for over 40 years. She said that she loves the scenic and small community nestled along the Glenn Highway.

“It’s where our truck stopped and we could never get it going again,” Pickle said with a laugh.

Priscilla Fairbanks said that she’s been volunteering at the Sutton Bible Church Food Pantry for over six years. She said they serve about 25 families a week on average.

“It’s a blessing to do this; because I feel like I’m doing the Lord’s work,” Fairbanks said. “I think they appreciate it, and we love to do it.”

The Sutton Food Pantry may not have been hit as hard as other pantries in the Valley, but they share a similar mission, to serve those in need. The coronavirus situation is ever changing and the future is still unknown. Further needs could arise down the road, so pantry volunteers are always making sure they have the means to meet them.

“It’s really important, especially right now,” Davis said. “We never turn down donations of cash or food.”

Epidemics and other social crises affect people of all walks of life, but the overall need for food will always be there. Davis said that she’s gotten to know a lot of locals over the years and partners like the Alaska Food Bank and other groups have helped them along the way.

“Our community blesses us as much as we bless them,” Davis said.

Houk said pantries in more remote areas like Sutton are very important. He said another pantry is opening in Glacier View. He said the efforts of Davis and her fellow volunteers is invaluable to meet people where they’re at.

“They are the epitome of what we want to see,” Houk said. “Those people don’t have access to big grocery stores… these things are a real blessing to people who are down and out.”

The Sutton Bible Church Food Pantry serves locals every Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. from the church parking lot. For more information, call 907-354-0012.

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