Food Pantry Met Increased Need in 2025 — Local Help Was Key

Tables of canned goods await customers in the Girdwood Chapel. (Photo by Allison Sayer)

ByAllison Sayer

TNews Staffwriter

The Girdwood Food Pantry could have had a tough year in 2025. According to figures provided by director Terry Sherwood, the Food Pantry has seen the highest demand for food since 2020.

Meanwhile, deliveries of non-perishable foods from the Federal Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which normally provides about one quarter of Girdwood Food Pantry food, have been “short.” Shelves at the Food Bank of Alaska Anchorage location, where Girdwood Food Pantry volunteers have often collected food, have been “empty.”

Even with these challenges, an increase in local donations enabled the Food Pantry to serve everyone who came through the door this year. “Girdwood residents have been generous,” said Sherwood, “It’s neighbors helping neighbors.”

In 2025, as of December 16, the Girdwood Food Pantry provided approximately 3370 food services. That figure comprises both one-time visitors and the sum of multiple visits by the same individual. Sherwood estimates 332 unique people from 195 households were served in 2025, as of December 16.

The 2025 figure is a 38% increase from 2024, during which 2442 individual services were provided.

Services include bimonthly deliveries to 28 families in Whittier and non-perishable food boxes for 48 Alyeska Resort employees.  

In a phone interview, Sherwood stated that not only were more people seeking food, but there seemed to be more anxiety about whether it would be available. “For the first time ever in Food Pantry history, we’ve had a line at the door before we’ve opened. That’s never happened before. People are starting to worry and get here early.”

Recently, the State of Alaska provided some additional funding to the Food Bank of Alaska. This provided statewide pantries with additional non-perishable food. This week, food from the Girdwood School canned goods drive lined pantry shelves. Other local agencies and individuals have held drives, contributed money, and donated food.

Girdwood Food Pantry Director Terry Sherwood poses with a refrigerator purchased with recent grant funding. (Photo by Allison Sayer)

Sherwood stated the Girdwood Crow Creek Mercantile (“The Merc”) has been extremely helpful through “grocery rescue.” They proactively donate food close to its expiration date instead of throwing food away when it’s too late. “Almost every week, usually when they restock on Thursday, they’ve given us quite a bit of meat and bread supplies, and even some produce,” Sherwood stated.

Alyeska Resort is another donor, despite also having employees on the receiving end. Alyeska canned food drives help keep the pantry provisioned in addition to a donation of $1 from every beer sold at popular Slush Cup events.

To provide the rest, Food Pantry volunteers spend about $1500 per month at Charlie’s Produce and $1500 per month at Costco. Private donations make up the bulk of the funds. Cash spending in 2025 exceeded spending in 2024 by $3400 as of December 17. Sherwood anticipated spending another $1000-$1200 during the week of Christmas.  

The Pantry receives money when someone opts to donate at The Merc cash register. These donations enabled the Food Pantry to give customers $25 gift cards recently to help with holiday needs. The donations also added festive cookies and candy to the December Sunday meal, and purchased can openers to give to customers.

Also in December, the Food Pantry distributed coats and warm clothes collected by the Lions Club. Sherwood stated the Food Pantry also keeps a supply of hats, gloves, and other warm gear to give away.

 If you need food, you can visit the Girdwood Food Pantry the second and fourth Wednesday of every month, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Customers are invited to select their own food, including dry and canned goods, dairy, meat, and produce.

There is no application process. However, filling out a voluntary form could help the Food Pantry qualify to receive more food from the federal government. The Food Pantry is located at the Girdwood Chapel, just uphill from the junction of Timberline Drive and the Alyeska Highway.

The first Sunday of every month, a hot meal is served at the Girdwood Chapel from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Sherwood stated the bimonthly food distribution is well served by a group of regular volunteers. She invites local groups to take a turn providing and serving the Sunday hot meal. This meal is a good opportunity to “see how the Food Pantry works and to sit and share a meal with some of their neighbors.” The Sunday meal is also an opportunity for Food Pantry customers to learn about other services they may be eligible for.  

The Food Pantry does not currently need shopping bags, but they do need clean, empty egg cartons. Nonperishable food can be delivered to a bear box outside the Girdwood Chapel. To donate perishable food or for additional information, call (907)783-0127 or email TurnagainCommunityServices@gmail.com.

Looking ahead, Sherwood does not anticipate major changes for 2026. Over the past two years, grant funding has enabled the Food Pantry to expand its food storage and work area. A small addition was built that contains additional counter, pantry, refrigerator, and freezer space. Sherwood hopes to find grant funding to construct an additional storage shed on the property.

Sherwood reflects with gratitude on the community support essential to the Food Pantry’s continued ability to serve. “The Girdwood community has been amazing,” she said.  

Number of individual food services by Girdwood Food Pantry, 2020-2025. After a dramatic decrease food aid delivered in 2021 and 2022, the number has increased. There was a 38 percent increase in the number of food services to individuals delivered between 2024 and 2025. (Graph courtesy of Girdwood Food Pantry)

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