A partnership with Alaska Seaplanes has allowed products to reach several remote areas in need of assistance.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many families to lose jobs and resources, leaving them worried about their future. The Alaska Commercial Company store in Sitka, Alaska has been able to respond to the needs of the community members through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) program Farmers to Families, with the support of Sitka’s non-profit organizations and partner Alaska Seaplanes.

The Farmers to Families program was first created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide relief to those affected by the pandemic by purchasing up to $3 billion USD of fresh produce and dairy products and supply these to communities in need. To make this possible, the department partnered up with several national and regional suppliers, with AC Lakeside store being at the heart of the operations in Sitka.

The store has received the products and brilliantly planned their distribution, including the logistics of unloading, separating, packing, and delivering the boxes with a personalized and streamlined process. The products are carefully packaged into family-sized boxes by staff members.

To assist the crew, the store also hired some students in the community. This has not only provided much-needed employment during this difficult time but has also helped the students gain valuable work experience and knowledge. The collaboration with multiple non-profit organizations, such as The Salvation Army, Sitka Tribe of Alaska and SAFV Shelter has also allowed the product to reach remote areas in need of critical relief, and has created an efficient distribution system.

The produce is received by the AC Lakeside store and carefully packaged into family-sized boxes.

“It’s a great feeling. For us, it’s giving people high quality, fresh food products during an unforgiving time. During these unprecedented times, we have been able to pivot our focus and resources to supporting the community. By delivering the same quality of food with the same level of service, our standards have not changed. It is important to stay connected as a community and this program helps the community rally around eating well and being well. It is an elegant solution to a complicated issue caused by COVID-19,” shared Vincent Winter, AC Lakeside Store Manager.

AC Lakeside has been delivering a total value of 21,000 pounds a week (84,000 pounds a month) or a weekly count of 1250 boxes into the community. There are two distinct types of boxes that are being given out; a fresh produce box and a chill box. The fresh produce box is a 22-pound box that contains items such as russet potatoes, cabbage, onions, apples, oranges, etc. The chill box is a 12-pound box that contains half a gallon of 2% milk and whole milk each, 2 pounds of cheddar cheese and a pound of butter.

Members of the Sitka Tribe of Alaska assisting in the distribution process.

 “We are very grateful for the USDA Farmers to Family program. The boxes of produce are beautiful. We have received many gracious compliments about the boxes & their benefits. We are humbly thankful for being able to help the folks of Sitka,” shared Major Sabrina Tumey, The Salvation Army.

The initiative was originally planned to run from the start of July through to the end of August. However, the success and smooth execution of the program has made it likely for the program to be extended until the end of the year. As much of the planning regarding the supply chain processes is done in-store, it enables the store to be more efficient in their goals and gives each non-profit exact dates and times each week to help them move the products to those in need quickly.

The community response has been marvelous with several ecstatic members appreciating the store and its staff for the hours of work they’ve put in to make the program possible. “You are so awesome! Thank you AC Lakeside for putting in the efforts and getting this food in our community!” shared Rachel Roy, a fellow community member, on the store’s Facebook page.

The program will also be serving communities throughout Alaska with the Alaska Commercial Company playing an active role throughout the process.