Support your local food bank

To the editor,

People in Alaska are usually pretty giving when it comes to ones truly in need. Because of that they must be aware of the true facts about where their good deeds are actually being directed. We often give to an organization taking for granted that it will help where we want it to. I want to address the Food Banks and pantries in Alaska in particular. The people of Alaska need to know that the food and money donations they give to the Food Bank of Alaska in Anchorage services only the city of Anchorage.

They will give out food to people that go to Anchorage to get it but they do not supply the outlying area food banks and pantries without charging them. They come to the Valley once a year at Thanksgiving and distribute for the Blessing dinner. There are currently food drums that are being placed at local businesses in the Valley that are asking for food donations and are actually being taken to the Anchorage Food Bank of Alaska. Those drums are red in color. The Mat Su Food Bank located on Bogard Road, however, services all the pantries in the Valley from past Sutton to Trapper Creek. They warehouse the food here and distribute it from here to whoever asks and is qualified. They do this without charging them and many times they even deliver. That delivery costs in gas and other needs.

There are many reasons they also need cash donations to continue this work.

Please check to make sure that the items you are giving are going for your unspoken intent. The Mat-Su Food Bank and all other pantries needs support all year long.

Carrol Palmer

Wasilla