I’d like to correct a misrepresentation and a misperception about the people of Anchorage. A cursory reading of any news source may lead one to believe that Anchorage residents do not care about the homeless or the people struggling to either make their bills or buy groceries, all due to a myriad of cascading events from pandemics to wars to supply-chain issues that have brought these tumultuous times to our collective doors.
It brings to mind when my pastor grandfather routinely fed the migrant “hobos” at his kitchen table during the Great Depression. Today, my joyriding husband had a flat tire on his bicycle and was pleasantly surprised when several people with trucks asked if he needed a lift.
At the grocery store today, I let a young man ahead of me in line, because ours was backlogged for 15 minutes or more and the line beside us opened. He offered to buy my groceries. I told him, “No, no, no, save it for someone who needs it.” The cashier told me someone had been in there that day buying groceries for people he didn’t know.
Volunteers are showing up to feed the homeless, provide services and bring goods to the temporary homeless camp of Bicentennial campground. I’ve seen more random acts of spontaneous kindness recently than I can count. Stand up and take notice, people. We are greater than these political quarrels. We will get through inflation, homelessness, and tragic events together. That’s who and what we are. Anchorage cares.
— Barbara DuBois
Anchorage
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