According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 1 in 7 of Ketchikan Gateway Borough residents rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits to meet food needs. Even though benefits have been restored since the federal government reopened earlier this month, organizations in Ketchikan are still working to feed people in need this Thanksgiving.
This was the first year the Ketchikan Indian Community offered a free Thanksgiving box to tribal citizens. The 100 boxes included non-perishable items, like dried goods, and holiday-inspired produce, like sweet potatoes and cranberries.
The tribe came up with the idea for these boxes during the month-long government shutdown. Social services special projects assistant Danielle Ludwigson said they were worried about how delays in SNAP benefits could impact their community.
“We just want to make sure that our tribal members are being cared for,” Ludwigson said. “And if they need assistance, they can come and see us at social services.”
The tribe also gave away about 450 gift cards to area grocery stores. That’s in addition to the tribe’s monthly food bags and food pantry working to meet local need.
A staff member with Ketchikan Park Avenue Temporary Home, or PATH, said in a phone call Wednesday that an anonymous source dropped off about $10,000 worth of food to the organization Tuesday. The employee declined to comment who donated the food or where it’s slated to go, but he said it would be dispersed to “various organizations” in the region.
Local faith-based organization Love in Action was offering free turkeys to community members. The organization said it didn’t see an uptick in need this year. So far, they’ve distributed about 50 turkeys.
Ketchikan’s Salvation Army will host a free Thanksgiving lunch at its headquarters, across the street from Diaz Cafe, this Thursday at 12 p.m. They will offer traditional Thanksgiving fare, like turkey, ham, and stuffing.
Hunter Morrison is a Report for America corps member for KRBD. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution.
