Three Bears Alaska makes donations to local food banks

Three Bears Alaska hosted their third annual “Shop with a Purpose” event on December 12 at all of their business locations. For that day, 10% of store sales and 5% of gas sales were donated to local food banks within those communities.

The 2025 event was a success, with $111,912 raised to be redistributed to those in need across the state of Alaska.

“We’re all incredibly proud that Three Bears is not only an Alaskan-grown company, but that we’re an Alaskan company that’s giving back,” Three Bears Alaska Director of Marketing Cheryl Metiva said. “And that’s important to all of us.”

The Mat-Su Food Bank received $24,290 and the Palmer Food Bank received $18,890, the two largest recipients in 2025. Metiva joined the President of Three Bears Alaska Paul Sonnenberg and CFO of Three Bears Alaska Julie Morales to present a check to the Executive Director of the Mat-Su Food Bank Fred Becker, President-Elect of the Mat-Su Food Bank and Mayor of Wasilla Glenda Ledford and the Director of the Mat-Su Food Bank and Controller of Three Bears Alaska John Spaulding. A similar presentation will occur with the Palmer Food Bank in the coming weeks.

Other organizations in the Valley that benefit from Shop with a Purpose include the Upper Susitna Food Pantry, Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Big Lake and the Big Lake Baptist Church in Houston.

Last year’s business-wide total was an increase from 2024, which was $76,495. Three Bears is doing more to promote Shop with a Purpose every year, sending fliers to the food banks and advertising on their social media in the days leading up to the event. It is always held on a Friday to maximize their give-back potential with one of their busiest shopping days of the week.

“We’re not going to stop,” Metiva said. “It’s part of our dedication and our commitment to the communities we serve.”

The event started with the realization of the food challenges that people across the state of Alaska face everyday. Those demands place a strain on local food banks. Three Bears Alaska has been serving Alaskans since 1980, filling a middle-market that larger stores can’t compete with. The business, from the top to the bottom, genuinely cares for the people they serve by listening to their customers and giving back to programs within their communities.