Here's a statistic that might surprise you:

    One out of every eight Alaskans uses a food pantry at some point during the year.

Do you know why?

In this Break the Cycle report we'll explain and show you how one organization is helping out.

Breaking the cycle of hunger is getting more challenging here in Alaska because it seems the problem is getting bigger. These days it doesn't take much to push people over the economic edge.

Saint Francis House is one of the oldest food pantries in the state, serving about 80 clients a day. The

people who come aren't homeless. They're called the working poor, where something like an extra tank of gas can put them over the edge.

"I know it costs me about 45 dollars to fill up my Subaru and up to 70 dollars for a bigger car. And when people do that, they often don't have money for food, especially at the end of the month," said the director of Catholic Social Services, Susan Bomalaski.

That's where Saint Francis comes in, allowing people to fill up on groceries once a month, choosing the items they like, to cut down on waste. And that's a good thing because pennies count at the pantry where some of the food is purchased, but a lot of it is donated.

"We're always looking for donations because any good we can put out on the shelves and we don't have to buy. So when you're providing close to 300,000 meals a year to 13,000 people, that's a lot of food out there," said Bomalaski.

The other thing they are always looking for are volunteers. They play a big part in getting the bulk food ready for the shelves, but also serve as personal shoppers.

Volunteers treat every client with dignity and respect. Workers say that can be an important start to breaking the cycle of poverty and hunger.

"And that connection between the volunteer and the people who come here can often be that step in helping people recover," said Bomalaski. She continues, "It's a real tangible way of feeling like you've made a difference in someone's life."

If you are interested in volunteering at the pantry, donating food, or using their services, you can click below for more information.

To contact Lauren , call 907-273-3186.