The new dining room at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank is set up for Thanksgiving lunch on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Food bank opens doors for Thanksgiving lunch

“We don’t know what to expect, so we’re trying to still be cautious on our limited seating.”

Around 20 people were enjoying their turkey and pie at noon in the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank’s new dining hall on Wednesday, exchanging smiles and wishing each other a happy Thanksgiving.

Greg Meyer, the executive director of the food bank, said he wasn’t sure what to expect with the first in-house large meal since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down operations and the facility underwent renovations.

“We don’t know what to expect, so we’re trying to still be cautious on our limited seating,” he said before the Thanksgiving lunch started.

They usually see an uptick in donations at the food bank during the holiday season, Meyer said, but last week the donations skyrocketed. Hilcorp Alaska helped organize a food drive at a Brown Bears hockey game on Friday: free entry with a food donation.

“We got 3,700 pounds of food,” Meyer said. “That really made a huge difference for us to make sure everybody was taken care of.”

He said it was the single largest food drive the center has seen.

Cheryl Morse, the cook at the food bank, said the preparation for Wednesday’s holiday lunch took about three days.

“We started on Monday, prepping,” she said. “With lots of help I’ve been able to get it.”

Helping her serve on Wednesday were seven other volunteers.

Donna Cotman, one of the volunteers serving an array of pies during the lunch, said she’s been helping out at the food bank for about six years.

She said they had been able to accommodate both people who came to dine in, and for people who couldn’t make it to the food bank in person.

“We’ve been able to serve the people that have folks at home that are bedridden, so we can give them to-go (meals),” Cotman said.

Helping people get what they need is what keeps her coming back.

“I like to help people,” Cotman said. “I’m a nurse, and that’s kind of the way nurses are … I retired seven years ago and so I stepped in and started doing this. I love it.”

Meyer said on Wednesday that he’s been especially appreciative of the community this holiday season.

“I always want to express our gratitude, because we’ve had a tough couple years in the community and people just continue to step up and make sure that we can take care of everyone,” he said.

Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.

Anne and Tom Kleeman prepare Thanksgiving lunch at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Anne and Tom Kleeman prepare Thanksgiving lunch at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Kay Sturm and Tom Kleeman prepare Thanksgiving lunch at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Kay Sturm and Tom Kleeman prepare Thanksgiving lunch at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Kay Sturm and Tom Kleeman prepare Thanksgiving lunch at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion) Kay Sturm and Tom Kleeman prepare Thanksgiving lunch at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Pie slowly disappears during the Thanksgiving lunch at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Pie slowly disappears during the Thanksgiving lunch at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

More in News

Gov. Mike Dunleavy compares Alaska to Mississippi data on poverty, per-pupil education spending, and the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress 4th grade reading scores during a press conference on Jan. 31, 2025. Alaska is highlighted in yellow, while Mississippi is in red. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Dunleavy vetoes education funding to $500 BSA increase

Per-student funding was increased by $700 in an education bill passed by the Alaska Legislature in May.

The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Job Center is seen here in Kenai, Alaska on April 15, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
Minimum wage increases to $13 per hour on July 1

Since 2014, Alaska’s minimum wage has increased from $7.75 to $11.91 through the Alaska Wage and Hour Act.

Leads for the Sterling Safety Corridor Improvements Project field questions and showcase their “preferred design” during an open house meeting at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Preferred design alternative for Sterling Highway safety corridor introduced at town hall

The project is intended to redesign and construct improvements to the highway to reduce the number of fatal and serious collisions.

Alaska State Troopers badge. File photo
Recovered remains confirmed to be missing Texas boaters; fourth set of remains found

Remains were recovered from the vessel sank that in Kachemak Bay last August.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a meeting of the KPBSD Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
KPBSD issues notice of non-retention to pool managers, theater techs and library aides

Those notices were issued due to the ongoing uncertainty in state education funding.

National Guard members put on hazmat suits before entering the simulation area on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
National Guard begins exercise in Juneau simulating foreign terrorist attacks

Operation ORCA brings 100 personnel to Juneau, disrupts traffic around Capitol.

Woman of Wisdom Roberta Highland holds her award from South Peninsula Haven House in this photo taken July 25, 2020, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy South Peninsula Haven House)
Borough assembly commends Roberta Highland

The longtime Homer resident passed away in April 24 at age 75.

Anchor Point Library director Deanna Thomas works the front counter on Friday, June 6, 2025, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Anchor Point Library awarded Rasmuson grant

Grant funding will relieve issues with the building’s septic system.

Most Read