The Farthest North Chapter of the Alaska Peace Officers Association (APOA) launched a Thanksgiving food drive in 2019 to raise funds for the food bank.

Law enforcement agencies in Fairbanks and North Pole have set a goal of raising 100,000 pounds this year. They surpassed their previous record of 95,981 pounds and exceeded their goal.

Of those donations, Fairbanks Police donated 22,008 pounds, Alaska State Troopers donated 60,187.75 pounds and North Pole Police led the way with 61,960 pounds. APOA also donated $1,000.

Anne Weaver, CEO of the Fairbanks Community Food Bank, said donated food will provide a Thanksgiving feast for 3,300 families, or about 13,000 people in the Interior, this week.

Weaver said many people in the interior are struggling and hungry.

“It used to be a really big deal when we served 2,000 families just the day before Thanksgiving,” she said.

She told law enforcement, “You know it’s really, really valuable.”

The food drive also sparks competition between local authorities.

Trooper Capt. Eric Spitzer told North Pole Police Chief Steve Dutra that he would go easy on North Pole police in the competition this year, Dutra said.

“He doesn’t do anything that isn’t intense,” Dutra said, thinking, “The game goes on.”

“We knew it would be difficult. We get tricky too,” Trooper Sgt. Lee Bruce said.

In addition to the three-day fundraiser at Costco, North Pole police also collected donations at Walmart and handed out stickers and candy.

Bruce and Dutra agreed that the community benefits when people donate to the food drive.

Dutra remembered a woman at Walmart who donated $1 to the food drive. “That made my day,” he said.

North Pole Police also helped raise funds for the Fairbanks Police Department, while the Fairbanks Police Department is short about eight positions. Family members of the Fairbanks Police Department also helped collect donations.

“It was a team effort,” Dutra said.

Dutra said the food drive shows people that law enforcement cares and what they want to do to help their community.

“That’s why we do what we do,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about.”

Bruce said the community is the one that shows up and provides food, and law enforcement is the conduit to get that food to the food bank.

“Even when food expenses are higher, the community is still willing to give back,” Bruce said.

As of Monday morning, the food bank still needs turkeys, baked bread or rolls, cake and cake mixes, canned sweet potatoes, canned cranberry sauce, butter and stuffing. Donations will be accepted at the food bank at 725 26th Avenue.

Thanksgiving food packages will be distributed on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 547 Seventh Avenue in Fairbanks, and from noon to 2 p.m. at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 1005 St. Nicholas Drive in North Pole. There is no need to sign up or register for food boxes.

The food bank distributes boxes of food to law enforcement officers throughout the year to provide supplies to families in need.

Soldiers deliver food boxes to the 27 inland villages all year round.

On Friday, soldiers brought ten food boxes to Venetie. They also visited the school with K9 Kenny and Safety Bear.