Great Harvest Bread is already stepping up to support this community through their donations!

Looking for some fabulous bread?  The Great Harvest Bread Company, next to Bruegger's on College, has some fantastic offerings!  And, to top it off, they are already baking extra bread just so they have some to give to the customers of this Fairbanks Community Food Bank!

Great Harvest has been having a record breaking opening and despite their daily sell outs they have determined to bake extra bread so that they can donate it.  So, by supporting them, you are supporting us.

To quote one of their owners, Steve Sundborg: "Some of my best daydreams of seeing this bakery come to fruition have been about giving back."  What an important community focus!

Thank you to ALL the food donors in this community.  Receiving almost 2,000,000 pounds of food a year takes every loaf of bread and every gallon of milk you are able to give.  Each and every one of you do such a valuable service to the folks in this community that are struggling with feeding themselves and their families.  Thank you!

Posted by Anne Weaver - 08/30/12, 03:52 PM

Thank you donors, we understand your sacrifice!

Every month or so we send out a request for donation via email and this month we received a kind note back from one of our faithful donors:

"Don't give up on me but I retired in April and I have yet to get any regular retirement checks... so my cash flow is at a trickle. When it gets fixed I will be sending the food bank and rescue mission donation $ again. I appreciate and respect what you do and want to help--when I can."

To that donor, and all our donors that have been so faithful over the years THANK YOU! We understand your situation and appreciate being on your giving list when you are able!

This community Food Bank has been in operation for 30 years because of donors just like this one - giving when they are able.

Thanks!

Posted by Anne Weaver - 08/29/12, 07:39 PM

Thank you Pogo Mine and CMI!

Adryahn Bodyfelt (pictured below) came in yesterday afternoon to drop off the 115 pound (live weight) lamb that she raised for the 4H auction.

This lamb, pictured live above, was purchased by Pogo Mine and donated to the Fairbanks Community Food Bank.

CMI purchased a turkey from Adryahn's older sister at the 4H auction and that will be coming to the Food Bank shortly, as well.

Many thanks both to the hard working girls in the Bodyfelt family, and to the purchasers and donors of their meat!

Thanks!

Posted by Anne Weaver - 08/29/12, 04:02 PM

A note from Sam

Sam says:

I am seeing an increasing number of negative articles about childhood hunger in various news reports.  I guess that is not too much of a surprise because this is a particularly challenging political season.  Lots of finger pointing and concern about why our economy is so depressed.  Everyone has an opinion, but one thing I have noticed over the 22 years I have been here is that so often programs like free lunch for school children and senior food boxes are in the crosshairs when the political accusations start. 

I just want to take a minute to advise all of you that this small local community food bank is here because it makes sense to NOT throw away useable food in our community.  We acknowledge that we have folks who woke up this morning and did not know where their next meal would come from, and it makes sense, from a neighbor helping neighbor perspective, that we salvage and share what we have to help them.  There seems to be some public angst about programs supported by government funding and I read a really sad article the other day on a childhood hunger website that stated the problem is that we should not be “making babies” if we cannot afford to feed them.

Please hear this from me.  The Fairbanks Community Food Bank is not here to enter into that lively political debate.  We KNOW that things happen to local folks, who do the best they can to provide for their families, and what we offer is food salvaged and shared in our community.  We were started in 1982 as an emergency solution for the time between loss of jobs or disabilities (or 1000 other reasons, some good and some bad) until a family can get connected to longer term solutions, such as food stamps or worker’s comp solutions.  We are short term and inexpensive help, as a bridge to a solution, which is provided by the food box customer, not by us.  We do not have case workers here who deal with the bigger problems families face. 

A wonderful man asked me this question in a presentation l made last week, “Sam, what are you doing about the larger problems which cause people to come to a food bank.”  My answer is that this food bank’s mission is to collect local surplus food and give it, through churches and agencies, to local people who need it. 

We cannot solve world hunger, childhood hunger, people who do not know how to cook rice and beans, the issues which seem to be part of the worker’s comp problems.  We are Independents, Republicans and Democrats, and a Joe Vogler fan or two, and every other demographic.  We care about recycling local surplus food and we love the families we are able to serve. 

Really, it is that simple. 

At the end of each and every day I work at the Food Bank, I know that tonight we were able to take food from a local grocery store and give it to someone who did not have any this morning.  That makes me feel I did something useful today.  The volunteers and I love our jobs.   It is relevant and practical work.

Posted by Anne Weaver - 08/27/12, 07:59 PM

So much has happened these last two weeks!

On August 12th my son was born, causing much joy in our household, but much delay with the blogs.  Read below to see all the stories I missed putting up:

The United Way Campaign Kick Off happened.  Below are all of the Agency Directors:

And the United Way co-chairs John Ringstad and Joan Johnson:

Click this link to watch the United Way Campaign Video.

Glenn Risses donated nearly 200 pounds of cucumbers and zucchini.  Each cucumber was between 3 and 4 pounds a piece!!

John Ringstad with BP did his annual "shopping" at the 4H Livestock Auction (supporting those hard working kids) and the Fairbanks Community Food Bank benefits with hundreds of pounds of meat!

And BP also blessed us with several chicken!

Also, thank you to Mark Martin Engineering for purchasing a turkey at the auction for us!  And Lynden Transport also purchased some animals for the Fairbanks Community Food Bank. 

There is rumor that a few other folks purchased animals as well at that auction and donated them to this Food Bank.  THANK YOU!  I might now know who you are, but our customers are VERY appreciative!

Thanks Fairbanks! 

Posted by Anne Weaver - 08/27/12, 02:51 PM

One of the Fairbanks Community Food Bank founders passed away. We will miss you Carol Miller!

Carol Ann Miller passed away peacefully at her Fairbanks home on Aug. 20, 2012, with her husband of 40 years and close friends by her side, following a 10-month battle with brain cancer.
Carol was born Jan. 21, 1948, in Winston-Salem, N.C., the third child of Horace and Ethel Nickerson.
Shortly after her birth the family moved to Miami Springs, Fla. Carol attended church at Miami Springs Methodist Church and attended school in Miami Springs. Carol graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor's degree in social work in 1971.
While at Florida State, Carol met her future husband, Raymond Miller. After graduation, Carol was a school teacher in Oklawaha, Fla. Carol and Ray were married on June 10, 1972. Following a short honeymoon in Florida and Georgia, the couple moved to Germany where Ray was serving in the U.S. Army.
After 18 months in Germany the couple moved to Alaska, where Carol took a job at First National Bank of Fairbanks. Carol later worked at Fort Wainwright as a purchasing agent. With the birth of her first son, Carol decided to be a stay at home mom. Over the course of the next 35 years, Carol volunteered in support of her family's many activities and in support of many church, community, and school functions.
Carol was active in the First Presbyterian Church, serving as an elder and member of the session, and also on the Fund Raising Committee for the church expansion project. Carol sang in the choir at First Presbyterian for more than 30 years.

As a mom, Carol became a volunteer participating in her kids' activities; serving as a classroom volunteer, Cub Scout den leader, Boy Scout Committee member, ski team treasurer, high school band treasurer and chaperone. Carol also volunteered in the school nurse's office at Lathrop High School.
Carol was a founding board member of the Fairbanks Food Bank and volunteered as a case manager at Love INC. More recently, Carol joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary and participated in safety patrols for the Red Green Regatta, and at Harding Lake and Big Lake.
Carol was an accomplished seamstress, sewing everything from loose buttons to Star Wars Halloween costumes. Carol became interested in quilting and made many quilts that were given to friends, family and individuals suffering serious illness.
Carol was pre-deceased by her parents and her sister, Betty.
She is survived by her husband, Raymond; son, Ken and wife Celia; son, Greg; granddaughters, Elizabeth and Rachel; brother, Bob Nickerson; niece, Gail Fariss, and family; and nephews, Mark and Brian Nickerson, and their families.
A memorial service will be held 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012, at First Presbyterian Church on Seventh Avenue in Fairbanks.
The family requests that instead of flowers, a donation might be considered in Carol's name to the Fairbanks Community Food Bank.
Carol will be remembered as a compassionate, caring and loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend.
Arrangements were entrusted to Chapel of Chimes Funeral Home.

Posted by Anne Weaver - 08/24/12, 01:44 PM

A young girls view of the Food Bank

Kathy's grand daughter spent several days of her vacation voluntering at this Food Bank while she has been visiting Alaska.  To share her experiences with friends back home she has been creating blogs and here is the link to the log she did on us: http://that-is-a-wrap.blogspot.com/2012/08/fairbanks-community-food-bank.html?spref=fb  

Thank you Ina! 

Posted by Anne Weaver - 08/22/12, 10:00 PM

Thank you Holland America-Princess for your support of our Canned Food Day!

HAP-Alaska (Holland America-Princess) decided that instead of having a party to celebrate receiving "Division of the Month" for June, the managers of the Division and managers for both Guest Services and Transportation would do something for the community that would benefit not only the employees but the community. Food Bank was the chosen non-profit.  They gave each employee 4 cans to get into the Fair on "Canned Food Day". 

Plus the purchases of the canned goods was local, so everyone involved had an invested interest. Any canned goods not taken to the fair was donated to the Food Bank.  There are over 100 employees at HAP-Alaska during the summer.

Submitted by Karen Kiss, Food Bank Board member

Posted by Anne Weaver - 08/19/12, 09:01 PM

24,796 pounds of food came in yesterday! Thank you Fairbanks and North Pole!

Thank you Fairbanks and North Pole!  We received 24,796 pounds of food yesterday during our Canned Food Day at the Tanana Valley State Fair!

Special thanks to Alyeska for sponsoring this event and ALSO advertising!  We couldn't have done this without your support!

Special thanks to 168th Air National Guard for their volunteers!

Special thanks to the Tanana Valley State Fair for supporting this event!

And, special thanks Fairbanks and North Pole for the thousands of pounds of food!!!

Thanks!

Posted by Anne Weaver - 08/10/12, 09:00 AM

Heading to the Fair

The weather is beautiful, the volunteers are in high spirits, the Fair is feeling great about today's event, and folks are bringing in cans (and $2)!  

Great day to go to the Fair!

Thanks!

Posted by Anne Weaver - 08/09/12, 02:26 PM

Preparations for CANNED FOOD DAY AT THE FAIR have begun!

We are loading up trucks with empty boxes and heading out.  Thank you 168th Air National Guard for being here early to load up!

Pictured above are Steve Proctor, organizer of this event with the 168th, and Matt with the Fairbanks Community Food Bank.

One of the 168th's vehicles full of boxes!

And their goes our Food Bank Sprinter.  Ready to head out to the Fair!

4 cans and $2 - and all food comes back to the Fairbanks Community Food Bank!  See you at the Fair!

Thanks!

Posted by Anne Weaver - 08/09/12, 02:15 PM

Tundra Bayou sports Alligator nuggets while supporting local!

With a menu like Alligator Nuggets and Loaded Fries you can't go wrong visiting the Tundra Bayou fair booth (located close to Macho Nachos).  But they sweetened their offerings even more by their SUPPORT of LOCAL!

A portion of their proceeds will be coming to the Fairbanks Community Food Bank, the Fairbanks Rescue Mission, and Care Net.

So as you munch on their delicious treats, know that you are also contributing to feeding the hungry in this community.

Thank you Jimmy & Fawn Dixon, owners of Tundra Bayou (pictured above)!

Thanks!

Posted by Anne Weaver - 08/07/12, 07:13 PM

Kaylee volunteers her Monday's at the Food Bank during her summer vacation

Kaylee decided to challenge her culinary experiences while volunteering her time here at the Fairbanks Community Food Bank during summer vacation. 

And boy have we enjoyed her expanding abilities!  Great job Kaylee!  Our volunteers had a treat for lunch!

Thanks!

Posted by Anne Weaver - 08/07/12, 05:38 PM

Thank you Fairbanks International Airport for your food drive!

Working with this community is such a joy!  As the Fairbanks International Airport wraps up their annual food drive we received this great note from Albert Stallcup, the Supervisor of Transportation Security Administration at the Fairbanks International Airport:

"Samantha, thank you for all your assistance and support.  You and your team have done a great job helping us make this food drive a success."

Thank YOU for your food drive!

Thanks!

Posted by Anne Weaver - 08/07/12, 05:27 PM

St. Raphael's Community Garden for the Food Bank looks great!

John Bunten is heading the committee at St. Raphael's Catholic Church that has planted a Community Garden for the Fairbanks Community Food Bank.

As John says: "The plot thickens..."

Many thanks to the volunteers at St. Raphael's for their hard work.  We have already received two bags of lettuce and there is more to follow!  What a treat for our customers!

Thank you for your hard work and for your support of the Fairbanks Community Food Bank!

Thanks!

Posted by Anne Weaver - 08/07/12, 10:00 AM

Thursday is CANNED FOOD DAY at the Tanana Valley State Fair!

Thursday is our big CANNED FOOD DAY AT THE FAIR day!  4 cans and $2.

From January through August we give out 80,000 more pounds of food EACH MONTH then we bring in so by the time the CANNED FOOD DAY at the Fair comes around our food supply is very low! 

This is an important food drive for us.  Thank you for your faithful support of this event, and of this Fairbanks Community Food Bank, for all these years!  Every can of food is valuable and appreciated!

And extra thanks to the Tanana Valley State Fair for sponsoring this event, along with Alyeska Pipeline.  And also, to 168th Air National Guard - your volunteers make the Food Bank side of this event go so smooth!

See you at the Fair!

Thanks!

Posted by Anne Weaver - 08/06/12, 10:45 AM

WATTS the new job description for volunteers?

Sam has been thinking about energy costs in our warehouse, and is in the middle of a MICROTURBINE installation (a machine which generates both heat and power).  This is to replace the coal boiler we have been using the past 4 winters.  Every reasonable option was reviewed as we considered the change of our existing systems for heat and power. 

The last few days Sam has been talking to food bank volunteer Frank Abegg and said, “You know, Frank, maybe it would be easier to hook up dozens of volunteers to bicycles and let them peddle and generate power for the warehouse lights.  How many volunteers do you think it would take to power one warehouse light bulb?” 

Frank’s response, “WATTS and WATTS of volunteers.”

Ha ha!

Posted by Anne Weaver - 08/02/12, 05:05 PM

Glenn Hackney is back at work!

Glenn Hackney, pictured below, is back at work doing what he has always done - helping this community!

What a gift he is!

Thanks!

Posted by Anne Weaver - 08/02/12, 04:57 PM