Alaska Leaves Millions in Federal Food Assistance Unclaimed

While one in eight Alaskan families struggle to put enough food on the table, Alaska is leaving millions of dollars in federal nutrition assistance unclaimed, according to a new report from Food Bank of Alaska (FBA).

“Empty Plates in the Great Land: Alaska Leaves Millions in Federal Food Assistance Unclaimed” analyzes Alaska’s implementation of several federal nutrition programs. According to FBA, Alaska is missing out on $29.5 million per year due to underutilization of the Food Stamp Program. Only 59 percent of eligible Alaskans are receiving food stamp benefits statewide, and participation is lowest in Alaska’s two largest cities, Anchorage and Fairbanks.

The School Breakfast Program is also underutilized in Alaska. During the 2005-06 school year, 146 schools statewide with 10,154 low-income students did not offer federally-funded breakfast. Alaska could claim an additional $1.9 million in breakfast reimbursement by lifting participation to the level already achieved by high-participation states. Other federal programs, including the Summer Food Service Program, are also severely underutilized across Alaska.

With a comparatively modest investment at the state level, Alaska has the potential to leverage millions of additional nutrition dollars from the federal government. “Empty Plates in the Greatland” calls upon state legislators, schools, emergency food providers, faith communities, tribes, and the nonprofit and business communities to work together to connect more Alaskans in need with these resources. The report recommends ways to increase food stamp outreach to eligible but non-participating households, help more Alaska schools provide breakfast, and feed more hungry children outside of school hours.

The full text of the report is available for download in PDF form below.