‘Caring For Alaska’ Expands Environmental Initiatives

‘Caring For Alaska’ Expands Environmental Initiatives

Matson’s Caring for Alaska program had a successful second year in 2022, awarding grants to 16 organizations in its port cities of Anchorage, Kodiak, and Unalaska, an increase of seven organizations since the program’s inaugural year.

“It’s wonderful to see more organizations participate in Caring for Alaska,” said Alaska Community and Government Affairs Manager Dylan Faber. “Each volunteer participating in one of these projects contributes to a cleaner, healthier environment.”

Caring for Alaska partners with local community organizations to beautify and protect our natural environment by awarding small grants to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits that arrange and carry out clean-up, rehabilitation, and infrastructure projects.

Here is a sampling of this year’s grantees:

Kodiak KINDNESS

Kodiak KINDNESS volunteers wear yellow safety gear and pose with a Caring for Alaska sign.
Volunteers came together to clean up Kodiak beaches and bike trails on April 23. Photo by Alison Horn.

Kodiak KINDNESS is a nonprofit that provides free infant feeding information to families on Kodiak Island. The organization took to the island’s beaches and bike trails in April to remove 800 pounds of trash and eight to ten bags of recyclables. Thirty-four people, including adults and children, joined the cleanup despite the wind and rain.

“I’m really thankful for this program – for the opportunity to do it year after year and improve on it every year,” Heather Preece, Kodiak KINDNESS’ volunteer executive director, told Matson earlier this year.

Kodiak KINDNESS plans to use its Caring for Alaska grant to buy replaceable parts for their new hospital-grade breast pumps.

FORTRESS Anchorage

With trees in the background, FORTRESS Alaska volunteers pose for a picture with the Arctic Benson Park sign, full trash bags and a shopping cart.
Anchorage Police Department SWAT Team and community members came together to clean up Arctic/Benson Park in Anchorage on October 23. Photo by Ardy Robertson.

On a cold, sunny day in late October, FORTRESS Anchorage conducted a trash cleanup at the Arctic/Benson Park. FORTRESS is a nonprofit that supports the Anchorage Police Department SWAT Team.

Seven Anchorage Police Department SWAT Team members and their families participated in the cleanup event alongside approximately 20 community members.

“We are grateful to Matson for the opportunity to donate our time and clean up our city,” said FORTRESS Board President Ardy Robertson.

Matson sponsored gloves, vests, grabbers, snacks, and gift cards that were given away in drawings.

Over the course of the afternoon, the group picked up two truckloads of garbage bags, as well as an old shopping cart.

Youth Employment in Parks

With trees in the background, Youth Employment in Parks volunteers wear hardhats and pose with their trailer and Caring for Alaska signs.
Volunteers from YEP.

Youth Employment in Parks was another highlight of this year’s Caring for Alaska program. The Anchorage Parks Foundation worked with volunteers and YEP to carry out more than 600 hours of projects in 2022.

A grant from Matson supported YEP’s work at Anchorage’s University Lake, restoring the bank and picking up trash. This year’s work also included streambank restoration at Westchester Lagoon and along Campbell Creek.

Matson also sponsored a cleanup day at Russian Jack Springs Park and two volunteer work days at Spenard Beach Park.

Overall, Matson supported five cleanup, restoration, and infrastructure projects through the Anchorage Parks Foundation, drawing over 100 volunteers.

Anchorage Waterways Council

The Anchorage Waterways Council conducted its annual Creek Cleanup in May with support from Caring for Alaska.

Around 500 volunteers teamed up to clean up 41 creek reaches from May 12-24.

This year, a flotilla event was added, drawing around 50 volunteers who cleaned seven bodies of water in Anchorage on May 21. Organizers estimate they disposed of hundreds of pounds of waste.

Caring for Alaska provided financial support for both events.

“They also provided us with safety vests, trash pickers, and hand sanitizer. We are SO grateful,” said Waterways Council Executive Director Cherie Northon.