food security

Fruit is displayed at an Anchorage grocery store. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

A group of attorneys and volunteers helped nearly 2,000 Alaskans get food stamps during backlog

About a year ago, Jamilyn Fenn noticed she was helping a lot of elders in the Seward area repeatedly fill out applications for food stamp… Continue reading

Fruit is displayed at an Anchorage grocery store. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
A sign for a store that accepts food stamps and exchange benefits transfer cards is seen in this 2019 photo. Ten Alaskans are suing the state over its failure to provide food stamps within the time frames required by federal law. (Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images)

New data shows measurable progress on Alaska’s food stamp backlog

The division of state government that handles food stamps has made progress in eliminating the backlog of thousands of Alaskans waiting for aid, but it… Continue reading

A sign for a store that accepts food stamps and exchange benefits transfer cards is seen in this 2019 photo. Ten Alaskans are suing the state over its failure to provide food stamps within the time frames required by federal law. (Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images)
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Southeast Alaska Food Bank director Chris Schapp separates cans of salmon on Monday donated by SeaShare based out of Washington state. Thanks to a recent announcement from the Alaska State Department of Health, Schapp’s food bank will be one of four food banks to receive much needed financial assistance.

State announces raft of actions to address food stamp backlog

Funds for local food banks, automatic renewals are among the measures.

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Southeast Alaska Food Bank director Chris Schapp separates cans of salmon on Monday donated by SeaShare based out of Washington state. Thanks to a recent announcement from the Alaska State Department of Health, Schapp’s food bank will be one of four food banks to receive much needed financial assistance.
A sign for a store that accepts food stamps and exchange benefits transfer cards is seen in this 2019 photo. Ten Alaskans are suing the state over its failure to provide food stamps within the time frames required by federal law. (Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images via Alaska Beacon)

Lawsuit says Alaska Department of Health exposed thousands to hunger risk by not giving food aid

Complaint filed Friday alleges some families have waited four months for nutrition assistance.

A sign for a store that accepts food stamps and exchange benefits transfer cards is seen in this 2019 photo. Ten Alaskans are suing the state over its failure to provide food stamps within the time frames required by federal law. (Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images via Alaska Beacon)
Applications and notifications about changes to benefits line a table at the entrance of the Alaska Division of Public Assistance office in Juneau. The division’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is months behind processing applications to due to workforce shortages and lingering problems of a cyberattack. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Food stamps backlog expected to continue for months

8,000 Alaska households go months without SNAP benefits; cyberattack, lack of workers blamed

Applications and notifications about changes to benefits line a table at the entrance of the Alaska Division of Public Assistance office in Juneau. The division’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is months behind processing applications to due to workforce shortages and lingering problems of a cyberattack. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows Helping Hands Food Bank as it faces potential closure due to a decline in financial assistance and donations. (Courtesy Photo / Helping Hands Food Bank)

They’re banking on community support

Local food banks say donations needed now more than ever.

This photo shows Helping Hands Food Bank as it faces potential closure due to a decline in financial assistance and donations. (Courtesy Photo / Helping Hands Food Bank)
Phyllis Marder poses with her cat, Nellie, with food she recently obtained from a local food bank in the dining room of her home in Evanston, Ill., on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020. At first, Marder, 66, didn’t tell anyone about going to food pantries. Then she had a change of heart. “Keeping a secret makes things get worse,” she says ’”… and makes me feel worse about myself, and so I decided that it was more important to talk about it.” (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Pandemic pushes newly hungry Americans to crowded food lines

Millions of Americans are worried about empty refrigerators and barren cupboards.

Phyllis Marder poses with her cat, Nellie, with food she recently obtained from a local food bank in the dining room of her home in Evanston, Ill., on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020. At first, Marder, 66, didn’t tell anyone about going to food pantries. Then she had a change of heart. “Keeping a secret makes things get worse,” she says ’”… and makes me feel worse about myself, and so I decided that it was more important to talk about it.” (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Meals slated for children in Juneau over Thanksgiving weekend are arrayed on tables at Thunder Mountain High School on Nov. 25, 2020. (Courtesy photo / Luke Adams)

Font of plenty: JSD readies meals for Thanksgiving holiday

Nearly three tons of food got distributed for the long weekend.

Meals slated for children in Juneau over Thanksgiving weekend are arrayed on tables at Thunder Mountain High School on Nov. 25, 2020. (Courtesy photo / Luke Adams)
Photos by Peter Segall | Juneau Empire The Glory Hall is currently the only source for a meal for many Juneau residents experiencing homelessness, June 25, 2020. Executive Director Mariya Lovishchuk said that this is leading to friction with downtown residents and businesses, and she supports the Juneau Cares program, a program that pays local restaurants to help feed the homeless or food-insecure.

Program to feed hungry, fund restaurants trudging toward reality

The program could inject up to $1 million into local restaurants while feeding the most vulnerable.

Photos by Peter Segall | Juneau Empire The Glory Hall is currently the only source for a meal for many Juneau residents experiencing homelessness, June 25, 2020. Executive Director Mariya Lovishchuk said that this is leading to friction with downtown residents and businesses, and she supports the Juneau Cares program, a program that pays local restaurants to help feed the homeless or food-insecure.
A plan is being refined to use CARES Act funds to help feed Juneau’s food-insecure residents, such as the patrons of the Glory Hall. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Proposal would ‘set the table’ to address community hunger

The plan would give business to local restaurants.

A plan is being refined to use CARES Act funds to help feed Juneau’s food-insecure residents, such as the patrons of the Glory Hall. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)