Food donations a bit lean as community Thanksgiving meal preparations heat up

St. Vincent de Paul collecting food for holiday meal baskets until Nov. 17; annual labor council food drive also reports contributions dropped compared to last year

A Southeast Alaska Food Bank van partially loaded during an annual food drive organized by the Juneau Central Labor Council at Super Bear IGA supermarket on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

This story has been updated with additional information.

High food prices are making it harder for people in need to buy groceries, and may be a factor in why Juneau organizations are seeing a dropoff in donations during their annual Thanksgiving season events.

An annual food drive last Saturday by the Juneau Central Labor Council on behalf of several local organizations saw a decline compard ot the record donations a year ago, Shannan Adamson, said as the event was nearing its end in the Super Bear IGA parking lot.

"I think the economy probably plays into it a little bit," she said, adding relatively nice weather may have been a factor since people may have been doing things other than shopping with their weekend.

About 1,600 pounds of food and supplies were collected this year, compared to about 3,300 pounds last year, Adamson stated in an email Friday.

"A definite difference, but we're happy to be able to do something in our community no matter how it goes," she wrote.

Beneficiaries include the Southeast Alaska Food Bank, Glory Hall, St. Vincent de Paul Juneau, The Salvation Army, Love INC and Juneau Animal Rescue.

Also collecting food through Nov. 17 for its annual Thanksgiving food basket distribution is St. Vincent de Paul. Donations are being accepted by several local churches partnering with Love INC. and can also be dropped off at St. Vincent de Paul’s administrative offices at 8617 Teal St. — and perishable items must be brought to that address so they can be properly stored.

Chris Gianotti, a volunteer organizing this year’s Thanksgiving baskets, told the Juneau Independent on Friday that donations for the food baskets are lower this year, but signups by people for baskets are also down – at least for now.

"Yesterday's count was about 250 families looking a meal," he said. "That's a little light compared to last year. I think it's timing — it's a moving target. We'll get requests up until the day before Thanksgiving and we try to fill them."

The baskets are scheduled to be assembled Thursday by youth volunteers from Raven Homeschool and a Catholic high school student group, Gianotti said. Delivery is scheduled a week from Saturday (Nov. 22), with 40 two-person teams signed up so far.

More information for people wanting to request a basket, donate or volunteer to help is at St. Vincent de Paul’s website.

Another Thanksgiving season food distribution is scheduled this Saturday by the Tlingit and Haida Community Council, which will be offering turkey breasts and sockeye fillets to tribal citizens beginning at 10 a.m. in the back parking lot at Thunder Mountain Middle School. The distribution will continue until supplies run out.

On Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26), The Salvation Army Juneau Corps will host its annual free community dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Juneau Yacht Club.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.