The Alaska Food Policy Council is a proud partner of the Alaska Food Coalition. Learn more below and get involved!
Guest Blog Post by Ron Meehan, Policy and Advocacy Manager - Food Bank of Alaska
The Alaska Food Coalition (AFC) was founded in 1996, with encouragement from Alaska’s Department of Health and Human Services (now DHSS). While initially focused on increasing resource access for agencies and village councils who distribute food, the coalition has transformed over time to have a greater emphasis on advocacy and education. The mission of the Alaska Food Coalition is to address the root causes of hunger in Alaska through research, education, advocacy, and collaboration. In this endeavor, we support policies and programs focused on alleviating hunger, building healthy communities, and promoting access to affordable, nutritious and culturally appropriate food. The AFC aspires to create systems change to end hunger in Alaska through the cultivation of a strong anti-hunger network.
ACF members during Food Security Fly-in Week, Juneau
Membership
The AFC consists of a dynamic group of more than 150 partners, including food banks, food pantries, state agencies, Alaska Native groups and tribal councils, faith-based organizations, nonprofits, among others. We work to promote and advocate for state and federal policies to reduce food insecurity and provide a platform with which to network with other partners across Alaska allowing them to share best practices and work together to accomplish our shared goals.
Whether you’re a seasoned advocate of food security policy or just getting started, we welcome your involvement! Email rmeehan@foodbankofalaska.org or call 907-222-3103 if you are interested or want to learn more! Additional information can also be found at https://foodbankofalaska.org/alaska
What We Do
The AFC holds monthly teleconferences to provide updates to coalition partners and to allow them the opportunity to share information or upcoming events. We fund AFC mini-grants each October intended for small-scale, capacity-building projects that will have a long-term impact on addressing food insecurity in Alaska. Numerous other funding and grant opportunities are also circulated to coalition partners. The AFC holds a Legislative fly-in to Juneau every February which includes lunch and learn sessions at the State Capitol and meetings with legislators. Sign-on letters sponsored by both the AFC and other adjacent food security organizations also play a role in our advocacy efforts. We plan to host a second yearly face-to-face event in Anchorage focused on fostering stronger relationships and sharing of best practices.
Recent Accomplishments
We have worked on many different initiatives over the years including school meal legislation, Child Nutrition Reauthorization, Hunger in Alaska studies, and SNAP Outreach. Recent accomplishments include collaborating with federal partners on a child nutrition sign-on letter, creating a Snapshot of Hunger in Alaska document, and hosting virtual sessions on Food Banks and Food Pantries: The Sharing of Best Practices and Child Nutrition and Federal Programs. Please reach out to rmeehan@foodbankofalaska.org if you are interested in receiving the recordings of either of these events.
Leadership
Ron Meehan joined the Food Bank of Alaska as Policy and Advocacy Manager and Alaska Food Coalition Manager in July. He graduated from Wesleyan University double majoring in Government and Environmental Studies. Before Wesleyan, he was an active volunteer at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank for over ten years, also serving as a summer intern for two summers and as a student representative on the Board of Directors.
