Bean’s Café Holds Communitywide Potlatch

Bean's Café serves hundreds of hungry Anchorage residents every day. But Sunday afternoon, it took a different approach.

By KTVA CBS 11

Story Created: Oct 17, 2011 at 3:00 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Oct 17, 2011 at 3:00 PM AKDT

Bean's Café serves hundreds of hungry Anchorage residents every day. But Sunday afternoon, it took a different approach.

The soup kitchen held an Alaska native-style potlatch celebration and invited clients as well as members of the public to come eat together and share traditional meals.

Dozens of volunteers prepared reindeer stew and fish, but officials say it was more than just a chance for a warm meal—it's about building a stronger sense of community.

"Families can get together, share what they've done, how they're doing it [and] maybe we can learn a little secret about how to get that whale blubber a little better," said Jim Crockett, executive director of Bean's Café.

The event was organized in cooperation with the nonprofit Heartbeat Alaska.

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