Alaska: Local Impact

Hunger Statistics in Alaska:

According to this latest data, 14.5% of Alaskans—about one in seven people—experienced food insecurity, while 17.8% of children lacked reliable access to enough food. (Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap 2025, based on 2023 estimates.)

That child food insecurity rate represents an estimated 40,278 Alaska kids (17.8% of the 2023 child population)—enough to fill the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage (5,000 seats) about eight times.

About 106,080 people across Alaska face hunger. This challenge exists in communities statewide, affecting urban, suburban, and rural areas alike.

Many households experiencing food insecurity earn too much to qualify for federal nutrition programs and instead rely on Alaska food banks and their network of local partner agencies to meet basic food needs.

Partner Stories:

Boys and Girls Club

In communities across Alaska, afterschool hours are more than a place for learning and connection—they are often where young people receive their most reliable access to nutritious food. Our funding helped Boys & Girls Clubs address a growing gap between federal meal reimbursements and the real cost of providing healthy food, a challenge made even more complex by the high cost of purchasing and transporting food in rural Alaska. By supporting a shift toward a more sustainable food model, our investment helped ensure that Clubhouses across the state could continue offering consistent meals and snacks, reducing food insecurity for children and easing the burden on families who depend on these programs.

Our support also strengthened the Healthy Lifestyles pillar at the heart of Boys & Girls Clubs programming through the Triple Play Healthy Habits initiative. By pairing access to nutritious food with hands‑on health education, this program helps young people build the skills, confidence, and motivation to make healthy choices throughout their lives. The interactive Healthy Habits curriculum reinforces physical, social, and emotional well‑being—ensuring that food security is not only about meeting immediate needs, but also about supporting long‑term growth, resilience, and success for Alaska’s youth.

Food Bank of Alaska

Behind every successful SNAP enrollment is a system that works efficiently, reliably, and with dignity for the people seeking help. Our funding helped strengthen the SNAP team’s ability to serve neighbors across Alaska by supporting the next phase of a critical technology upgrade. Building on the initial Salesforce implementation made possible through prior Nourishing Neighbors support, this grant advances phase two—integrating phone systems, connecting additional programs, and upgrading hardware to streamline case management. These improvements allow staff to spend less time navigating systems and more time helping families access the benefits they need.

At the same time, our investment ensured that technology enhancements were paired with continued, boots‑on‑the‑ground outreach. Grant funds support travel to rural communities—particularly those with an Albertsons store—so neighbors can receive in‑person assistance where access is often limited. Together, these investments expand reach, increase efficiency, and reduce barriers, ensuring that more Alaskans can successfully enroll in SNAP and access critical food resources, no matter where they live.

Seawolf Food Pantry

For students facing food and basic needs insecurity, having a reliable place to turn can make all the difference. Our funding helped the Seawolf Food Pantry provide shelf‑stable food and essential personal care items to students who rely on the pantry to meet everyday needs. By supporting the purchase of nonperishable foods, canned goods, and toiletries, our investment helped ensure students could access consistent, dignified support—reducing stress and allowing them to focus on their education rather than where their next meal or basic necessity would come from.

Since 2022, the Seawolf Food Pantry has distributed more than 17,000 meals, serving students each month while also supporting their households. Our funding strengthens this vital safety net today and helps lay the groundwork for expanded access in the future, including the goal of weekly pantry visits. Through Nourishing Neighbors, we are proud to stand with partners who not only meet immediate needs, but also send a powerful message to students: their community cares, and they are not alone.

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