Food insecurity in Alaska is on the rise, again.
According to Feeding America’s latest Map the Meal Gap study, an estimated 115,780 of Alaskans faced food insecurity in 2024. That is 1 in 6 people.
Alaska’s food insecurity rate reached 15.6%, the highest level recorded in the study’s data series, which begins with 2009 data. Feeding America released the 2026 Map the Meal Gap report on July 28 using data from 2024.
The burden is not shared equally. Food insecurity is increasing among children and older adults. Black, Hispanic, and Alaska Native people continue to experience disproportionately high rates compared with white, non-Hispanic Alaskans. Some of Alaska’s highest food insecurity rates are found in rural and remote communities.
Why are more Alaskans struggling to afford food, and what can we do about it?
While food insecurity is a complex, interconnected issue, it boils down to a simple question: do you have enough resources to access the nutritious food your family needs to thrive?
For too many Alaskans, basic needs are becoming less affordable.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, national grocery prices have risen 31% since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, with some categories, like eggs and beef, seeing even steeper price jumps. Housing, health care, and childcare have all grown more expensive over the same period. Now the War in Iran is adding pressure at the pump, and higher transportation costs are having a ripple effect on other goods, including food. For Alaskans in rural and remote communities, the rising costs of necessities hits even harder. When the price of heating oil increases, this also drives up the cost of cooking food. Alaskans are paying more to both purchase and prepare food.
Meanwhile, fewer Alaskans are participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The number of Alaskans facing food insecurity has grown by 45% since 2020, while at the same time SNAP enrollment has fallen 17%. More people are turning to food banks, food pantries, and other emergency food providers to make ends meet.
And keep in mind – the latest Map the Meal Gap numbers reflect conditions in 2024. They don't account for the effects of H.R. 1, which was signed into law on July 4, 2025. The law changed SNAP work requirements and eligibility rules and included the largest cuts to SNAP in the program’s history.
Nearly half of Alaskans experiencing food insecurity, 47%, are estimated to have incomes above the threshold to qualify for SNAP. Even people who may qualify can face barriers when applying for or maintaining their benefits.
Despite the gloomy picture painted by the latest data, there is hope.
Food Bank of Alaska and our network of agency partners are responding to growing need across the state. We are sourcing and purchasing more food, expanding food rescue relationships with retailers, and adapting programs to better serve Alaska communities.
That response depends on donors, volunteers, businesses, policymakers, and local organizations throughout Alaska.
Alaskans are incredibly resourceful and self-reliant people. Many of our neighbors struggle to ask for help, even when they could really use it. But hunger shouldn’t be a badge of shame. As the latest Map the Meal Gap numbers make clear, food insecurity isn’t a personal failing. It’s a societal one. And it will take all of us working together to correct it.
That’s why Food Bank of Alaska and our network of 150 partner agencies do the work we do every day. We strive to not just fill bellies, but to build community. Our work is more than the pounds of food we provide. It’s the daily connections and conversations with neighbors. It’s our anti-hunger advocacy in Juneau and D.C. It’s collaborative partnerships among the nonprofit, government, and business communities. It’s our vision of a hunger-free Alaska, and how we get there together. Please join us in this incredibly important work today by making a donation, signing up to volunteer, or becoming a member of the Alaska Food Coalition.