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Weekly food bank distribution transitioning to monthly

Published 9:30 pm Wednesday, April 14, 2021

By Camille Botello

Todd Duwe hands a food box to Brad Nyquist as Mark Larson looks on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020, at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna, Alaska. The church volunteers were distributing food from the United States’ Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program, delivered by the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Todd Duwe hands a food box to Brad Nyquist as Mark Larson looks on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020, at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna, Alaska. The church volunteers were distributing food from the United States’ Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program, delivered by the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Starting next month, the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank will be scaling back distributions of food bags as its CARES grant funds deplete.

The executive director of the food bank, Greg Meyer, said on Thursday that the weekly food bag distribution will transition back to its normal monthly box starting in May.

The food bank distributed once per month before the pandemic struck last year, but was able to issue food bags every Monday with the federal funds from the CARES act.

“It’s definitely going to be a cutback, there’s no question,” Meyer said. He emphasized that while distribution will be less, the food bank will be monitoring the needs of its patrons.

“If we need to react, we will,” he said.

Meyer also said he’s hoping that once the summer rolls around, people will be able to fish and garden for additional food. Originally, the CARES grant was meant to expire at the end of 2020, but was extended to roll over into this year. Meyer said he’s grateful the food bank was able to help people survive the entire winter.

He has been in close contact with state and local government officials as well, to ensure the peninsula’s needs will be met this spring and summer.

“We are working very hard to keep our thumb on the pulse,” Meyer said. “I’m just completely in amazement at this community … there’s no question in my mind that people are going to step up to the plate.”

Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/peninsulaclarion.

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