Round Up: Fourth of July Events in Downtown Anchorage

A bake sale to feed hungry families, annual chili cook off, and the traditional pancake breakfast on the park strip.

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By KTVA CBS 11

Story Created: Jul 5, 2011 at 11:16 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Jul 5, 2011 at 11:33 AM AKDT

GREAT ALASKA BAKE SALE FOR FOOD BANK OF ALASKA

On Independence Day, Alaska teens gathered with other young people from the lower 48 in downtown Anchorage to help end childhood hunger in Alaska.

Summer is a time of greatest need for the nearly 18,000 Anchorage School District students receiving free or reduced price lunch and breakfast through the national school lunch and breakfast programs, which operates during the academic year.

Local research indicates that one in five children are at risk of not getting enough food to eat.

Proceeds from the Great Alaskan Bake Sale will benefit the Food Bank of Alaska and help purchase kid-friendly food.

The event served two purposes:

“It’s an awesome opportunity for kids to come up from the lower 48 [and] learn about Alaska, do some community service and most importantly to us, be part of our mission—eliminating hunger in Alaska,” said Jim Mackenzie of the Food Bank of Alaska.

Teens from Westcoast Connection 360, a student-based travel organization that is focused on community service, took part in the bake sale.

The sale raised $500, which is enough money for the Food Bank to purchase 2,500 pounds of food.

MIDNIGHT SUN CHILI COOK OFF

It was hard to escape the delicious aroma coming from the Delaney Park Strip on Monday as 18 professional cooks entered their finest creations in the Midnight Sun Chili Cook Off.

The winner will take home $600 in prize money for the best in red and green chili and salsa. Those who were competing had their eye on something even bigger.

The winner will also represent Alaska in the World Chili Cook Off in New Hampshire this October and vie for the top prize of $25,000.

“I won the chili verde last Memorial Day, so I will be going to the world title myself as a cook, not as a chairman,” laughed Wayne Ronsman, chairman chili cook off.

Proceeds from the Midnight Sun Chili Cookoff will go to the Halo Foundation to help fight cystic fibrosis.

SALVATION ARMY'S TRADITIONAL PANCAKE BREAKFAST

It's not a proper Fourth of July celebration in Anchorage without the Salvation Army and its annual pancake breakfast.

For five dollars, people along the Delaney Park Strip enjoyed pancakes and sunshine for a good cause.

The Salvation Army's McKinnel House shelter will receive the funds from the event which is now more than a decade old.

Jenni Ragland, public relations director of the Salvation Army, said the event began as a fun alternative to making the long trip to Seward for the annual Mount Marathon footrace.

“We needed to give people a reason to stay home. So that's when this started and we've been a part of it since the beginning,” she said.

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Loretta Whitley said on Friday, Jul 8 at 7:15 AM

I think your great more communities should do things like this, and get their young folk aware of the need and to help each other. I applod you for the good work.

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