From Anchorage Cares to AK Can Do to the municipality’s COVID-19 Rent and Mortgage Assistance Pilot Program, the purpose hasn’t changed – get Alaskans swift help that keeps people housed, safe and fed throughout the income losses of the pandemic. The $1 million Municipality of Anchorage program, funded by federal pandemic money, has strict qualifications […]
The Staying Power of AK Can Do
Hard-working people in Anchorage took a blindside shot from the coronavirus shutdown, and it’s not over yet despite the reopening. Hard times still dog our neighbors; swift help still keeps them on their feet. That’s the staying power of AK Can Do. Aurora Milam Many of us can relate to Aurora’s adventures in Alaska. She […]
Double for Kids, Triple for Seniors at Local Food Pantries
“Double for children. Triple for seniors.” That was the succinct prescription from Steve Worthington, manager and Good Friday crew leader at the Chugiak Eagle River Food Pantry. Those six words capture a hearty response to the upheaval wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kids are out of school, and may not be getting the usual school-supplied meals. So, in each family’s food box there’s a […]
Cold Weather Shelter: An Insider’s View
You could see he was weary from 30 feet away. Sean signed in for the night at First Presbyterian Church on 10th Avenue in Anchorage, his two daughters in tow. Malala was 2; Samantha just shy of 5. Sean was 30, a single dad for several years who said a tax refund hadn’t come soon […]
Point-in-Time: A Tarp, a Light, and a Cold Shelter
The blue tarp wasn’t well-hidden, but still hard to see in the dark at Campbell Creek Park, a few blocks south of Tudor Road. “Hello,” I called. “Who is It?” came a man’s voice from inside the shelter. I explained through the tarp wall that we were doing the Anchorage Point-in-Time Count of the number […]
Nature Lights the Way, Nurture Tells the Story
What do a book a month and 1 million new neural connections per second have in common? They both propel a child toward high school graduation starting at the earliest age. Reading to infants who can’t even grip the book – and toddlers who can – increases their chances of graduation 18 years down the […]
Fill the Cupboard for Today and Tomorrow
When you’re hungry, the long run doesn’t mean much. When your kids are hungry, it means even less. That’s why United Way of Anchorage has for years been the driving force for the Day of Caring Food Drive. This year’s drive is Friday at the Food Bank of Alaska, 2121 Spar Ave. We share the […]