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Food Bank and anti-hunger advocates urge continued direct food-purchase funding and school-meal supports
Summary
Food Bank of Alaska and partners asked lawmakers to continue direct food-purchase grants and support programs that expand free school meals and child nutrition, citing rising hunger and recent grant distributions.
Food Bank of Alaska representatives and anti-hunger advocates told the House Finance Committee the state should continue funding direct food-purchase programs and pilot efforts to expand free school meals, saying hunger remains a significant need.
Rachel Miller, chief advocacy officer at Food Bank of Alaska, thanked legislators for recent grants and said two separate $1.5 million allocationsone from the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (Food Security Grant) and one from the Department of Health (Food Bank & Pantry Relief Fund)have distributed food across the state. She said demand remains high: "Currently 1 in 8 Alaskans and 1 in 6 kids experience hunger," she said, citing statewide hunger statistics.
Miller asked lawmakers to consider initiatives that feed children, highlighting a pilot that would have moved 3,900 students from reduced-cost to free lunch and noting broad bipartisan support for the approach in a prior session.
Testimony was offered as part of the House operating budget (HB 53) public comment period; advocates said additional direct food purchasing and child-nutrition support would protect vulnerable families as federal and local pressures continue.
