Hunger is a reality for one in seven Alaskans, but Matson Alaska is taking a big bite out of this alarming statistic.
Over the past year alone, Matson has transported more than 1.4 million pounds of food, supporting our 20th annual Thanksgiving Blessing and, very especially, enabling Food Bank of Alaska to purchase and distribute food through a $1.5 million state grant to assist Alaskans in need. The support of this grant alone meant that over 1 million pounds of food were shipped to Alaska from the Lower 48 and ultimately reached Alaskans in need.
Matson’s in-kind contributions, financial support, and volunteer efforts are vital to our mission in the fight against hunger, and for that, we are deeply grateful.
Vic Angoco, Senior Vice President, Alaska, Matson, explained, “Matson has a long-standing commitment to improving the communities it serves. Our support of Food Bank of Alaska allows us to help meet the basic needs of Alaskans. Adding to the company’s financial and in-kind support, our Anchorage team looks forward to volunteering at the Thanksgiving Blessing every year. We are committed to this important work for the long haul.”
As part of its pandemic response plan, Matson made a $10 million commitment to support food bank networks in Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam through 2026. Before that commitment, Matson Alaska contributed $75,000 to the Food Bank’s capital drive for a new warehouse.
Matson employees also donate hundreds of volunteer hours, including at the Thanksgiving Blessing, which served a holiday dinner to 10,093 Alaska families last year. Claudia Russell, Director of Finance at Matson, also serves as treasurer on the Food Bank board.
Alaska’s vast size and unique geography demand careful coordination, robust infrastructure, and strong, reliable partnerships to overcome the challenges of food distribution. Matson’s generous shipping support has been instrumental in helping us navigate some of the most uncertain times of the past decade, including the height of the pandemic and the economic hardships that followed.
Photo credit: Matson. Matson Alaska team members roll up their sleeves at a recent food repack event, helping sort and box donations for distribution across the state.
