Volunteer snapshot
Volunteers from Lupe O Le Fáaolataga Church assemble outreach kits at the March 11, 2024, volunteer event.
‘We want to be part of helping’
A local church assembled hundreds of kits with food and first aid essentials for our unhoused neighbors during a March volunteer event.
Moli Atanoa of Lupe O Le Fáaolataga Church in Anchorage said she wanted youth to have an opportunity to give back during spring break week and specifically looked for a way to help those experiencing homelessness. Nearly 20 church members from teens to adults were joined by other community members to help the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness pack kits. Baggies with a variety of needed items — protein and fruit in food packets, bandages, ointment and tweezers in first aid kits — are given out weekly at pop-up events near large camps as well as distributed to individual campers.
“Any opportunity we can find, we want to be part of helping the community,” said Atanoa, the church secretary. In the past, the church has helped the Food Bank of Alaska, AWAIC and other nonprofits, she said. Sometimes they donate needed items, like gloves and mittens. They feel most connected with the cause when they donate their time, she said. As the group stuffed baggies, they listened to a playlist of Samoan gospel and cultural music.
Isaiah Kalifa, one of the church volunteers, had worked all day at his warehouse job and said he was so tired, he almost didn’t take part. As it turned out, packaging items was right up his alley.
“I’m glad I came,” Kalifa said.
By the evening’s end, about 600 kits had been assembled by church members and others. That is enough to supply outreach staff for two weeks as they help our unsheltered neighbors!
“We had a great time and are looking forward to the next,” Atanoa said.
The volunteer events occur every other Monday at the Coalition office, 3427 E. Tudor Road, Suite A. The coalition asks for volunteers to sign up in advance and for large groups to let us know the number expected so that the time is put to good use.