Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoy a wonderful holiday weekend with friends, family, and lots of good food. As we remind one another of all we have to be grateful for, we can be mindful of those in need and take time to share a smile and lend a helping hand.

Covenant House Sleep Out:

Last week, I participated in the Covenant House “sleep out” event to raise money and awareness for homeless youth. Covenant House is dedicated to providing a safe place and support services for homeless youth. Each year in the US, as many as 2 million youth experience a period of homelessness, and every year more than 5,000 of those young people lose their lives to the streets. The sleep out is part of a nation-wide effort to raise funds and awareness for homeless youth. Governor Walker and I participated in the event at Covenant House, which included a candlelight vigil to acknowledge homeless youths in Anchorage and to show them they are not alone. I joined the Governor and the First Lady and several people from our community in sleeping in cardboard boxes and tents on the Covenant House patio. The event was educational and a good reminder of the great work our local nonprofits do on a daily basis.

Several local nonprofits are providing assistance to the homeless community and those in need this holiday season. Below is some information about these organizations and how you can help!

o   Bean’s Café:  Bean’s Café is seeking food donations for Thanksgiving meals, including: butter, ham, eggs, stovetop dressing, cranberry sauce, cream of chicken soup, store bought pies, sweet potatoes, fresh fruit, salad dressing, fruit punch, ground coffee, large paper plates, and paper cups. With the cold temperatures, Bean’s is accepting donations for scarves, hats, gloves, hand-warmers, and socks to help people get through the cold weather. http://beanscafe.org/

Donations can be dropped off daily at Bean’s Café at 1101 East 3rd Avenue from 8 am- 4 pm.

o   Food Bank of Alaska:  The Foodbank is currently in need of frozen turkeys and nonperishable items for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Their warehouse, at 2121 Spar Avenue, is open to receive donations 8 am-4 pm Monday-Friday and 9 am-4 pm Saturday.  Visit their website to learn more about how to donate or volunteer. http://foodbankofalaska.org/

o   The Salvation Army:  The Salvation Army is also in need of turkeys, frozen or nonperishable items, snacks, G rated movie tickets and kids videos, disposable diapers, toiletries and towels, winter clothing for adults and kids, and coloring books, crayons, and backpacks for kids. They accept donations around the clock at the Salvation Army McKinnell House at 1712 A Street. http://salvationarmyalaska.org/

CPR by Anchorage Fire Department:

Since my twenties, I have been an outdoor wilderness guide. Most years, I take wilderness river trips in Alaska and the Lower 48. Having emergency medical skills is part of being an effective wilderness guide, including CPR training. This week, as required every two years by the State of Alaska, I spent several hours recertifying my EMT and CPR skills.

CPR training is incredibly useful and can help you save a life. Our Anchorage Fire Depart has one of the best CPR programs in the nation, and they want you to know how important CPR training can be. Their video below explains, “For every minute without CPR, a person who suffers cardiac arrest has a ten percent less chance of survival.” The Anchorage Fire Department has twice the national average for cardiac arrest survival. With that in mind, get certified and watch this video! 

Point Woronzof 100Stone Art Exhibit:

If you haven’t seen it yet, last weekend, volunteers set up an art installation at the north curve of Point Woronzof Drive. The installation, entitled “100Stone,” uses forms taken from body casts of people affected by mental illness over the past year. The artist, Sarah Davies, said she hopes the installation will lead to a realization of how many people struggle with various forms of mental illness and perhaps provide a sense of release from the isolation that they feel.

As always, please let us know if you have suggestions or concerns.

Sincerely,

    Rep. Matt Claman

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