When the Anchorage School District discovered that a number of children were arriving at school with empty stomachs Monday mornings, the Food Band of Alaska launched a weekend food program at Mt. View Elementary via the Children’s Lunch Box.

The program has grown to include seven Title 1 schools, and for the past four years, an eclectic group of volunteers led by Children’s Lunch Box super volunteer Clark Browne has met twice a month to spend a furious two hours packing lunch bags.

In that short time, the group of 20-some volunteers will assemble 2,500 – 3,000 lunch bags filled with items like oatmeal, breakfast bars, canned goods and ramen which will be distributed on Fridays to ensure the children have supplemental food for the weekend.

Brown is also involved with the Food Bank of Alaska, where he was instrumental in setting a record of 15.5 tons of food being donated in their annual 24-hour, door-to-door food drive.

The post MARCH VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH CLARKE BROWN appeared first on Michael Dinneen Photography.

February’s Volunteer of the month is Joy Thompson of Eagle River. I met Joy at St. Anthony’s during the holidays, where she was guiding a group of Chugiak/Eagle Rive Food Bank volunteers in distributing Christmas gifts and food for those in need.

She’s run several food banks and pantries over the years, currently you can find her at Eagle River Presbyterian church parking lot on Saturdays helping distribute food with the pantry.

She’s been at it for some 14 years, planning to quit when the hunger ends.

The post February Volunteer of the Month: Joy Thompson appeared first on Michael Dinneen Photography.

ReAnn and Tom began with the Straw For Dogs by fostering and then adopting a dog.

Their volunteer work covers the Mat-Su Valley, loading up their truck once a month or so for a weekend of delivering straw, insulated doghouse kits, food and other supplies to their regular clients, or to make calls based on new referrals.

Along with most of the other offerings, the insulated doghouses are kits made with donated materials and labor.

Says ReAnn, “It’s something that people don’t always feel they have the income for, but if we can provide the doghouses, they care enough to care for the animals.”

In showing their love for animals through their volunteersim, the couple has found that their efforts have a lasting effect through Straw For Dogs. They feel the organization is improving the lives of dogs where they are, and spreading that education through the communities they visit.

Straw For Dogs can:
Provide a well-built, insulated dog house that is large enough for the dog to fit in comfortably but small enough to retain body heat.

Raise the dog house off the ground.

Fill the house with straw for warmth.

Build a secure fence to allow the dog to move about freely (if a fence can’t be built, we’ll replace a chain with a lightweight cable tie-out).

Offer free food to insure that no dog goes hungry.

Educate caretaker on ways they can provide fresh water.

Supply a heated water bowl if appropriate.

Fit the dog with a new collar, leash, and harness.

Bring toys so the dog has mental stimulation.

Take the dog on walks to provide exercise.

Offer spay/neuter services, grooming, and transport to vet appointments.

More information on the organization can be found at their website: http://www.strawfordogs.org , and reached by email at; info@strawfordogs.org
907-310-7294

The post Volunteer of the Month – January 2017 appeared first on Michael Dinneen Photography.

Linda Lucky, Anchorage Museum of History and Art.

I ran into Linda Lucky while photographing the 2016 Anchorage Museum Gala. I asked her to tell me about her volunteering activities.

Why do you volunteer at the Museum.

I’ve been in love with the museum from the first time I walked into it. I’ll never forget entering the atrium with its carousel animals and a tree that touched the ceiling covered with handmade dolls from around the world. Because of the holiday decorations, lunches were served in an art gallery! I remember sitting in the middle of the room alone at a “two hat” table looking around at beautiful art on the walls. I had only been in Anchorage for 15 hours! I’m thinking: If this is what Anchorage has to offer, I’m going to like it here!

Tell me about your first volunteering experience.

In two weeks after signing on as a volunteer docent, I gave the landscape tour in the four galleries on the main floor. It was a school tour of 5th graders. It felt good to be back with kids again after four years of retirement. Like old times, only the classroom has changed.

What do you give, what do you get.

I bring optimism, enthusiasm, and a sense of humor to the job. My great satisfaction is being part of the museum visitors’ positive experiences and memories.

How you feel volunteering affects you, your community, the world.

It keeps me sharp. It keeps me connected to people and the community, people who share my love of the arts. Through the summer tours I meet folks from around the world. They are very impressed by the level of the sophistication of the museum.

Some of the places you have or do volunteer besides the museum.

I have volunteered at AWAIC, Beyond the Stacks, and the KNBA art auction every year.

The post Volunteer of the Month ~ October 2016 appeared first on Michael Dinneen Photography.