AFC Headlines

June 30, 2009

View the minutes of the most recent AFC teleconference, held June 18, 2009.

June 30, 2009

Join the Alaska Food Coalition

Do you think that ending hunger in Alaska should be a priority? Do you work to help get food to hungry people? If so, you should be a part of the AFC! Joing the coalition today and you'll be one of many anti-hunger organizations in Alaska that are working toward getting more food to those who need it, eliminating barriers to accessing food and strengthening Alaska's anti-hunger network. Along with connections to organizations all across the state, as a member you'll be eligible for mini-grants, organizational development and will get the opportunity to participate in our advocacy and annual meeting in Juneau in February. Fill out a new member form.

June 1, 2009

View the minutes of the most recent AFC policy committee meeting, held May 29, 2009.

April 22, 2009

View the minutes of the most recent AFC teleconference, held April 16, 2009.

February 15, 2009

Alaska Food Coalition Annual Meeting: February 9-10, 2009
This year's AFC Annual Meeting was a huge success. Members from more than 12 agencies convened in Juneau last month to educate legislators about hunger in Alaska and specifically ask for assistance in supporting the school meal program for Alaska schools. For the second year, the AFC has requested the state provide a reimbursement in addition to the current federal reimbursement already in place. Kids that get a quality meal for breakfast and lunch at school have better grades and fewer discipline issues.

In addition to talking to legislators, the AFC held a breakfast for policymakers on February 10. The breakfast was sponsored by Sen. Johnny Ellis and Rep. Paul Seaton. At the breakfast, the initiative for school meals was discussed and the AFC presented Hungriest Communities, the most current research on hunger issues in Alaska.

January 29, 2009

The Hunger Study is here! Hunger in America 2009 is the fifth national hunger study conducted by Feeding America (formerly known as America 's Second Harvest – The Nation's Food Bank Network) and its member food banks. The Alaska Food Coalition is managing the project for the entire state. The purpose of the study is to conduct research into the distribution of food assistance services to low-income Americans through our network of agencies. This research is one of the most in-depth surveys of its size assessing the problem of hunger in America. The 2005 study amassed over 52,000 personal interviews with individuals who received food assistance and from 31,000 food distribution agencies.

The Hunger Study is unique in that it both surveys hunger relief organizations in local communities and compares those findings with agencies from other communities across the country, and surveys the clients who access these agencies' services to determine the reasons they need food assistance. This two pronged study – local agencies and recipients – enables the food banking community to better quantify the needs of its communities, and analyze the capacity of the charitable food distribution system to meet those needs.

The Hunger Study has been cited as authoritative research by the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, House and Senate Budget Committees, House and Senate Agriculture Committees, and the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees in various public events and legislative hearings over the last few years.

We Need Your Help!

In February 2009, all anti-hunger agencies in the state will be sent a questionnaire concerning services, resources and clients served. If you receive one of these surveys, please take 15 to 20 minutes of your time to complete the form and return it according to the instructions provided.

In addition, you may be selected by a third party data analysis firm (Mathematica Policy Research) for an on-site visit at your program site. During this visit, properly screened and trained AFC staff and volunteers will interview your clients about their household structure and the food needs of their families. All answers to questions (yours and your clients') are kept completely confidential. Client surveys will be conducted in February, March and April of 2009.

Your participation is this study is important! Survey data will help food banks, our elected officials, and the community as a whole understand the role your organization plays in providing food assistance to those in need in Alaska.

Have Questions?

Do you have questions about the project or want to know more about how your organization can use the results that will be collected? Contact Kerri Burrows, Alaska Food Coalition Manager at 907.222.3103 or afc@foodbankofalaska.org.

October 27, 2008

AFC Agencies in the News
Two Alaska Food Coalition member organizations were recently in the Anchorage Daily News. Check out these articles on Downtown Soup Kitchen and Igiugig Tribal Council.
Downtown Soup Kitchen - http://www.adn.com/life/story/ 554350.html
Igiugig Tribal Council - http://www.adn.com/news/ alaska/ap_alaska/story/553643. html

October 27, 2008

Click here to view the minutes of the most recent AFC teleconference, held October 16, 2008.

September 29, 2008

Click here to view the minutes of the most recent Executive Committee Meeting, held September 22, 2008

September 29, 2008

Click here to view the minutes of the most recent AFC Teleconference, held September 18, 2008

September 29, 2008

Are kids lucky to be raised in Alaska? Are they given all the opportunities offered to them to have a stable home, a good education and the chance to make a difference in their world? Do our legislators think that kids are a high priority? The Alaska Food Coalition has joined with several other advocacy groups in the Anchorage area to put together a legislative forum called "It's About Our Kids!". Anchorage state legislative candidates and national candidates as well have been sent an online survey that covers hunger, poverty, healthcare and other issues that affect our kids. In addition, they've also been invited to attend the forum, where they will be given time to address various kid's issues. This is a great opportunity to see what the candidates think about issues that affect the anti-hunger network. The forum will be held October 1 and 2 at the Anchorage School District Board Room, 5530 E. Northern Lights Blvd, from 5 - 9:30 p.m. You can visit www.campfireak.org for a schedule.

September 26, 2008

In celebration of Hunger Action Month and support of the the AFC's School Breakfast Initiative, legislators from Anchorage, Homer and Soldotna will be visiting their local pantries and a school serving breakfast or lunch in the next week. Big thanks go out to Food Bank of Alaska, Homer Community Food Pantry and Kenai Peninsula Food Bank for hosting legislators to their facilities. Find out about Hunger Action Month by visiting www.feedingamerica.org .

September 15, 2008

The Alaska Food Coalition is currently accepting applications for mini-grants. These grants of up to $1,000 can be spent for food purchase and transportation costs only. Applicants will be accepted from AFC MEMBERS ONLY. If you are not a member, but would like to apply for a mini-grant, please contact the AFC Manager for more information. All mini-grant applications will be due by October 31, 2008. Download the application and guidelines in either Word or PDF Format.

Guidelines: Word | PDF
Application: Word | PDF

September 1, 2008

Haven't Applied for Membership Yet? The deadline for membership in the Alaska Food Coalition is September 1, 2008. If you missed the deadline but still want to be a member and take advantage of the advocacy, grants and networking provided by the coalition, contact the AFC Manager today!

September 1, 2008

Click here to view the minutes of the recent AFC teleconference on August 21, 2008

July 28, 2008

AFC Membership Drive!
It's that time of year again. Don't miss out on your opportunity to join a dynamic group of organizations that are leading the way toward ending hunger in Alaska. For a nominal fee, your organization can join and get great networking benefits, opportunities for organizational development, advocacy and grants. Check out the application here.

July 28, 2008

Click here to view the minutes of the most recent Executive Committee Meeting, held July 9, 2008

July 28, 2008

Click here to view the minutes of the most recent AFC Teleconference, held July 17, 2008

June 30, 2008

Click here to view the minutes from the most recent AFC teleconference, held June 19, 2008.

May 29, 2008

Click here to view the minutes from the most recent AFC teleconference, held May 15, 2008.

April 24, 2008

An Impact Study of AFC Mini-Grants

Alaska Food Coalition mini-grants have been used by agencies to facilitate increases in food distribution and/or the types of food available to their clients. This report analyzes the impact the Alaska Food Coalition mini-grants have had on modernizing the physical capacity of grantee agencies as well as their effectiveness in providing small boosts in the amount and variety of food distributed. It also discusses the impact the Rasmuson Foundation grant had on the program during the FY08 grant cycle.

April 24, 2008

The AFC Policy Committee gathered on April 17, 2008 to formulate recommendations for the the coalition's legislative agenda for the 2009 session. Instead of focusing only on the School Breakfast Initiative, the committee has recommended creating a platform that includes support for increasing the income eligibility for Denali KidCare and support for state investment in food purchase for anti-hunger agencies in Alaska. Read the minutes for more details.

April 24, 2008

Click here to read the minutes from the most recent AFC teleconference, held April 17, 2008.

March 26, 2008

Click here to view the minutes from the most recent AFC teleconference, held March 20, 2008.

February 19, 2008

The Annual Member Meeting was held in Juneau on February 11 - 12. Members from across Alaska attended a session on fundraising for anti-hunger agencies, the AFC business meeting, a presentation of the School Breakfast Report at the capital, a group Q & A with legislators and a review of the past year at the AFC. Attendees also met with legislators to advocate support for the School Breakfast Initiative. The Alaska Food Coalition thanks the agency representatives who made the trip to Juneau. The officers for FY 2009 were elected. Congratulations to:

President: Andrea Thistle, Valley Open Bible Fellowship
Vice-President: Irene Lee, Catholic Social Services
Secretary: Dana Paperman, Seward Senior Center
Treasurer: Susannah Morgan, Food Bank of Alaska

Minutes of the meeting are available on the Minutes and Agendas page of this website.

The Alaska Food Coalition wishes to thank Catholic Community Services for hosting the meeting, and the speakers and special guests at the Annual Member Meeting:
Senator Johnny Ellis
Representative Gabrielle LeDoux
Representative Lindsey Holmes

January 14, 2008

Twelve organizations were awarded Alaska Food Coalition mini-grants this month. The coalition, with the assistance of The Rasumson Foundation, gave more than $30,000 in grants, an increase of $20,000 from the previous year. The grants, awarded for up to $4,000, are given to assist anti-hunger organizations in sustaining or building their capacity. Awards were given for items such as shelving, freezers, refrigerators, stoves and even a chemical fire suppression system. The winning organizations are listed below:

Boys and Girls Club of Southcentral Alaska - Woodland Park Clubhouse
Brother Francis Shelter of Kodiak
Catholic Community Services
Catholic Social Services
Chugiak Eagle River Food Pantry
He Will Provide Community Food Pantry
Kenai Peninsula Community Care Center
Kenai United Methodist Church of the New Covenant Food Pantry
North Star United Methodist Church
Palmer Senior Citizen's Center
The Salvation Army Mat-Su Valley Corps
Willow Area Seniors

Stay tuned! The grant process for FY09 will begin in July!

January 24, 2008

Click here to see the agenda for this year's Annual Meeting. The meeting, held in Juneau, will be February 11-12, 2008. If you can't attend in person, please be sure to teleconference in for the business meeting. The meeting is scheduled for 1-3 p.m., Monday, February 11. A map of the meeting locaton can be seen here. When calling in for the meeting, please use the following number:

1-866-316-1519
Participant pass code: 723725

January 23, 2008

Click here for the agenda for the Alaska Food Coalition quarterly teleconference. The conference is scheduled for Friday, January 25 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at ANTHC here in Anchorage. If you are calling in for the meeting, please use the following number:

1-866-316-1519
Participant pass code: 723725

October 24, 2007

Hunger in Alaska: Basic Talking Points

As an anti-hunger advocate, you are very familiar with the face of hunger. You see it walk through your door with ever increasing regularity. Each day, with each person you help, you are trying to change that face. The attached documents can help you describe the face of hunger to those who don't see what you see and may be able to help you affect change.

September 5 , 2007

Help Determine the Future of the AFC!

Is your organization a member of the Alaska Food Coalition? If so, we need your help! In an effort to provide the services that members see most beneficial, we would like your opinion about the AFC. This six-question survey will only take a few minutes of your time, can be done quickly and safely through the internet, and will greatly assist the coalition in planning for the future. Please take a minute out of your busy day to complete the membership survey.

August 13, 2007

The AFC Mini-Grants are here!

The Alaska Food Coalition is funding mini-grants of up to $4,000 to agencies involved in fighting hunger in Alaska. This could include purchasing a new piece of equipment or repairing damaged equipment. The Alaska Food Coalition is primarily interested in funding projects which will lead to more hungry people getting fed and/or improves the quality of food being distributed to hungry people. Check out the Mini-Grant Guidelines and Mini-Grant Application (Application in MS Word).

Need help with your grant? Take a look at this approved grant from last year to give you some pointers on completing a successful application. If you have questions, contact the AFC Manager. The deadline for applications is September 30, 2007.

August 1, 2007

It's time for the Alaska Food Coalition Membership Drive. Join the fight to end hunger on a statewide level and get access to research, advocacy education, grants and networking. Contact the Alaska Food Coalition Manager to become a member today!

June 15, 2007

Results from the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey allow a more granular analysis of the growing hunger problem in Alaska than has ever been previously available. The results provide the numbers to prove many of the suspicions long held about hunger in Alaska – that there is an unacceptable lack of protection for the most vulnerable people in our state. Read the report.

May 21, 2007

This session of the Alaska state legislature has seen two issues dominate the social services landscape in Alaska. The first concerns the eligibility criteria of Denali Kid Care and the second relates to the future funding structure of the Human Services Matching Grant. Read the latest on these issues and how they affect the anti-hunger community.

April 3, 2007

A new report on the Alaska Food Coalition mini-grant awards concludes that funded charitable food distribution agencies have overwhelmingly benefited from a small injection of cash to either restore or boost physical capacity. Read the full report and summary.

KTUU News covered the presentation at the Annual Member Meeting of Empty Plates in the Great Land, a report which declares that $29 million more of federal funds could be accessed to help feed hungry Alaskans. Read the story.

March 6, 2007

The Annual Member Meeting was held in Juneau on February 12 - 13. Members from across Alaska attended a session on non-profit and state perspectives of the Farm Bill, a group Q & A with legislators and a review of the past year at The Alaska Food Coalition. This year we saw increased participation from the membership and The Alaska Food Coalition thanks the agency representatives who made the trip to Juneau. The officers for FY 2008 were elected. Congratulations to:

President: Linda Swarner
Vice-President: Nick Timurphy
Secretary: Sophia Gomma
Treasurer: Susannah Morgan

Minutes of the meeting are available on the Minutes and Agendas page of this website.

The Alaska Food Coalition wishes to thank the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development for hosting the meeting, the Glory Hole for hospitality offered to the attendees of the Empty Plates in the Great Land report release and the speakers and special guests at the Annual Member Meeting:

Joan Chase (Alaska DHSS)
Linda Coate (Alaska DEED)
Representative Bryce Edgmon
Representative Les Gara
Janelle Gomez (Alaska DHSS)
Shawn Powers (Food Bank of Alaska)
Carolyn Spalding (Alaska DHSS)

Minutes are also available for the Second Quarter Teleconference which took place on January 16, 2007 . The teleconference was an advocacy training session led by Pat Luby, Advocacy Director of AARP Alaska. It was a privilege to have such an experienced advocate as Pat facilitate and host the teleconference. The session looked at practical methods in communicating your message and in conducting effective meetings with legislators. Details can be found on the Minutes and Agendas page.