Alaska Team Brightens Community Holiday

Alaska Team Brightens Community Holiday

Standing outside and bundled in warm clothing, Joel and Jill Morse help move large boxes of food.
Jill Morse, Oil & Gas logistics coordinator, and Joel Morse pitching in to provide a great Thanksgiving to those in need.

This November, Matson partnered with the Food Bank of Alaska to support their annual Thanksgiving Blessing event. The Food Bank of Alaska receives tens of thousands of pounds of Thanksgiving meal essentials and distributes them at sites throughout the state. The event ensures more families get to enjoy a bountiful holiday meal.

This year, Matson provided in-kind shipping of three 40-foot refrigerated containers of food, a cash donation and volunteer support at a distribution site. Ultimately, the Food Bank of Alaska’s Thanksgiving Blessing was able to serve approximately 11,000 Alaskan families.

Bundled Ben Cruz stands inside smiling and giving a hang loose sign.
Ben Cruz, gatehouse and equipment control manager, Anchorage, helping to spread Thanksgiving cheer.

Anchorage Equipment Control and Gatehouse Manager, Ben Cruz, one of Matson’s volunteers at the event, said, “It feels great to work for an organization that believes in doing its part to support and improve our community. Getting to see the grateful faces and hear what receiving this free meal means to the recipient was rewarding. I am proud knowing we helped get the food all the way from Tacoma literally to recipients’ dinner plates.”

It takes many volunteers and donors to pull off this event every year. Thank you to the Food Bank of Alaska for another successful Thanksgiving Blessing and for supporting our neighbors in need.

Bundled Matson volunteers pose for a group picture inside a gym.
L-r: Ben Cruz, Dylan Faber, Pam Zagrocki, Joel Morse, Jill Morse, Jessica Croffut, Powell Gallagher, Zach Stohr, Jennifer Tungul.