Upper Susitna Food Pantry Working to Fill Food Gaps

According to the website for Alaska’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, full benefits have been restored for all recipients through September 2026. The Alaska SNAP program expects to issue the payments this week and December payments will be on the regular schedule. 

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy previously declared a disaster on November 3 to pay up to $10 million for SNAP to residents and to help food banks and pantries. The most recent delay in SNAP funds reaching Alaska residents is a result of the federal government shut-down. But for about two years, Alaska has had a backlog of SNAP applications.

Local food banks and pantries, already feeling the pinch due to the SNAP backlog, are seeing many more residents in need. Upper Susitna Food Pantry Interim Director Emily Barron says they’ve seen a significant increase in the last month from about 30 households to 52 households in need of assistance. 

Barron says the Pantry can always use donations of dried goods, canned or frozen meat, and canned fruit. Residents may visit the Pantry twice per month Tuesday through Friday from 10:30 to 4:30.