The Methodist Church helps stock our shelves!

The Methodist Church has faithfully supported the Fairbanks Community Food Bank for many years, and this year is no different!  For their Souper Bowl food drive they raised 277 pounds of food.  Thank you for your continued support of this important mission!

Thanks!

 

Posted by Anne Weaver - 02/22/12, 11:17 AM

Get your taxes done FOR FREE

Still need to get your taxes done but not excited about paying the fees?  For each can you bring into Liberty Tax (either location) on Saturday Feb 18th from Noon to 5pm you get a % off your tax fees. 

So, 1 can = 1%, 5 cans = 5%, and YES 100 cans = 100% FREE.

This canned food drive is for 5 hours only.  Please see their flyer below, and thank you for your support of the Fairbanks Community Food Bank!

Thanks!

 

Posted by Anne Weaver - 02/16/12, 07:32 PM

Faces of hunger

Every year we talk with our customers to see how we can serve them better. During that time we hear many stories of courage.  Luann had some stories that particularly touched her.  Here is her version:

"I really enjoyed being out doing the surveys for the Food Bank.  People told us how thankful they were for the food, and how helpful it will be.  One lady said if it wasn’t for our food, her boys wouldn’t have enough to eat.  They are growing and she has to supplement her shopping with the food boxes.

Another mother who is expecting and boyfriend was out of work was very thankful for the food.  She was hoping to be able to get back to her work at the hospital as soon as possible after the baby’s birth so she could supplement their food supply and pay bills.

Another lady with a college degree was disabled and was heavily relying on the Food Bank for her food.  It was hard talking with her because you could feel her sadness that once she was a proud worker and pulling in a decent pay check and now she has to depend on others for her food.

One disabled man was walking home dragging a suitcase filled with his food.  When offered a ride he turned it down because he had been in the house during the cold snap and now he needed to get out and get some exercise.  I love seeing people who don’t let a disability hold them back.  He was only in about his late 30’s.  He was a blessing, he helped the guys get the food off the truck and never complained. 

One man made a trip on his motorized wheel chair to pick up his food boxes and then came back to talk with me and answer my questions about the Food Bank.  The church said that unless it is really cold out, he will drive that wheel chair everywhere.  He comes over every week.  Even helps others with their stuff.

Most people just were thankful.  And most told us God Bless you. Thank you."

Thank you for your stories of courage and your willingness to share. 

This is a small sampling of the thousands of folks we serve every month.  Thank you, Fairbanks, for your support!

Thanks!

 

Posted by Anne Weaver - 02/15/12, 08:38 PM

North Pole Christian School starts "Food Bank Month" today

I had a great time this morning presenting to North Pole Christian School during their chapel.  NPCS kicked-off "Food Bank Month" today with songs, boxed goods, and a presentation about how the Food Bank relies on this community.

One of the questions I often ask of a group is what they already know about the Food Bank.  The first answer out of the kids, one in the 1st or 2nd grade none the less, was that "sharing food is important."  That was a great way to start.  And after a great discussion, the last answer, from one of the senior high kids, was (yelled with great exuberance) "SHARING MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD!"  Yep, it was a good way to start out my day!

The kids at this school always do a fantastic job with their food drive.  It is a joy to be able to speak with them every year!  Many thanks to them for a month dedicated to serving our customers!

We will even be seeing 6 of their senior high students this month for a couple of days of volunteer service.  They are doing a local mission project because they know that there are hungry people right here in Alaska.  Smart kids!

Thanks!

 

Posted by Anne Weaver - 02/01/12, 04:21 PM

Belly laugh at the Food Bank

This made our staff smile: a man lost a bet on a Football game so he came here to the Food Bank to make a donation in order to pay off his debt.  Now that's a good way to pay off a debt!

Thanks!

 

Posted by Anne Weaver - 02/01/12, 04:07 PM

-49 degrees and our volunteers keep on working!

Pam Rothwell, our USDA Manager, had two groups scheduled to come in on Saturday to volunteer.  When the temperatures dropped she called them and invited them to cancel but neither did.  Here is her story:

"At -49 below zero the Boy Scouts Den 5 of Pack 25 and the Midnight Sun Lions packed CSFP boxes. 72 Child and 252 Senior boxes.

I asked them why come out on a cold day. The reply was cause of people needing it and we were open to do it whether they were here or not.

They were doing it for a service project. Notice some of the Boy Scouts had to stand on tiptoes to put the item in the box. They totally had a great time. Enjoyed helping the community and people who need it.

 Andrea Johnson, Joleen Boyd, Don Bennett (the manager for West Fred Meyers who is working with the Boy Scouts as part of a Partner Program with Fred Meyers), Donald Bennett, Finn Mackinaw, Cora Hamilton, David Soderlund, Dane Soderlund, Andrea Johnson, Caleb Johnson, Aaron Johnson, Jacob Johnson, Kyana Chambers, Nouyak Hamilton, Tieranny Chambers.  (The names in bold are the scout leaders.)"

Thank you volunteers for your incredible dedication.  The colder it is outside the more customers we have in need at the Fairbanks Community Food Bank.  These are tough months in Fairbanks.  Thank you for serving our needy in the roughest of times!

Thanks!

 

Posted by Anne Weaver - 01/30/12, 05:38 PM

Thank you WalMart!

During these cold winter months the demand for our services is at its highest.  Many of our customers are struggling paying their heating fuel bills, or other unexpected expenses that come along with -40 degrees. 

Today we were blessed with 1,089 turkeys from WalMart (23,335 pounds!).  These turkeys will go a long way feeding our customers during these trying months.

Thank you WalMart!  You are a generous food donor every day of the year, and this turkey drop off is another example of how you take care of this Food Bank.

Pictured above is Anne Weaver, Tim Erickson - WalMart's local Store Manager, Kathy Seim - Food Bank warehouse manager.

Thanks!

 

Posted by Anne Weaver - 01/27/12, 03:32 PM

Staff Stories - stories that make our day!

Annette, our Customer Service Manager, gave me three stories to share with you:

The day started on the wrong foot.  We got into a silly discussion with a guy who was (wrongly) told by his friend that he could get free food boxes for a month, then he would have more money available for beer.  Our 2^nd  phone call was from a standing order family in North Pole informing us she needed to be taken off our order list because she was just approved for food stamps and she thought someone else could use the food more than she and her family.  That phone call was the Heart WARMING call the front desk people needed today to help us remember that most of the people we serve are people who really, truly need our help, and we have to have the other calls to give us a laugh.

I had a man stop in today with a brown bag full of potatoes.  He planted last spring for the first time and was overwhelmed with potatoes, four different varieties from a farm in Delta.  He showed me all four kinds and we told him we gladly accept any and all he has and when he returns on Friday morning he will bring in truck load to us.  He was happy we could accept them even if they are not in a store bought bag.  The best news, he says, is that he no longer has to bombard his friends with potatoes.  As always, we are grateful for any food PROBLEM like this any of you have.  We need and appreciate all of you who donate to your local community food bank – and we, literally, can’t do this community project without YOU!

These two young men pictured below, Joshua Brooks (age 16) and Jesse Die (age 11), have their own egg business: J-Brothers Organic Yard Eggs. 

They are homeschooled boys raising chickens both for their family and also to sell at the Home Grown Market.  Last week the Home Grown Market was full of fresh eggs so instead of throwing the eggs away these two young men dropped off their fresh grown eggs at the Fairbanks Community Food Bank.  30+ families had an extra special treat!

Thanks!

 

Posted by Anne Weaver - 01/23/12, 04:29 PM