In 2018, Salmon Sisters celebrated an exciting milestone for the Give Fish Project - donating our 100,000th can of salmon to the Food Bank of Alaska. We are overwhelmingly grateful for our community’s support and generosity, which has made it possible for Salmon Sisters to continue to build this program and strengthen our relationship with the Food Bank of Alaska. The Give Fish Project was founded on a simple idea: for every item purchased from Salmon Sisters, we donate a can of healthy and delicious wild salmon. Thank you for helping us give fish.
We want to shine a light on the work that goes on behind the scenes of the Give Fish Project. Cara Durr, the Director of Public Engagement at the Food Bank of Alaska, gave us the rundown on the importance of donations, and shared some of the incredible work that this organization does to feed our community. Read on to learn more!
Located in Anchorage, the Food Bank of Alaska works with close to 200 partner organizations to distribute food across the state. Its efforts help us get tasty tinned salmon from sea to plate. The Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, one of the leading anti-hunger organizations in the country. The membership allows for a wide variety of donation and purchasing partnerships with major manufacturers, as well as requires particular food safety standards and financial accountability.
“We see examples of people everyday who are really trying their best and sometimes just need a little help.”
- Cara Durr, Director of Public Engagement, Food Bank of Alaska.
In addition to essential federal programs, the Food Bank of Alaska relies on the support of the community. Donated items account for 66% of the Food Bank’s distributed food: “It’s a key part of our operation,” says Cara. Close to 1 in 7 people, and 1 in 5 children struggle with hunger in Alaska. The Food Bank is working hard to combat this statistic, by providing immediate assistance and tackling the root causes of hunger and food insecurity through a variety of programs, advocacy work and policy initiatives.
“Healthy sources of protein are always in demand.”
- Cara Durr, Director of Public Engagement, Food Bank of Alaska.
Eating wild Alaska salmon makes us feel healthy, happy and strong – which is something we want to share with as many people as possible. Our donated pink salmon comes from the Southeast Alaska seine fishery, and is processed and canned by Silver Bay Seafoods, an Alaskan company that is owned by commercial fishermen. The Give Fish Project allows us to give back to the communities that have help Salmon Sisters flourish, while supporting hardworking Alaskan fishermen. Salmon Sisters is proud to play a part in tackling hunger, and we hope to inspire other businesses to find unique and creative ways to address challenges in their own communities. Thank you for helping us provide wild, delicious and responsibly caught protein to those most in need.
To find our more about the Food Bank of Alaska, hunger and food insecurity in Alaska, and ways to volunteer, donate and advocate visit: http://www.foodbankofalaska.org