Bean’s Cafe Services Update- updated 9/13/21
Beginning Wednesday, September 15 Bean's Cafe is no longer operating the Mass Emergency Shelter at Sullivan Arena. Stay tuned for updates on who to contact for anything related to the shelter.
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As of March 2020, Bean’s Cafe has moved all client services to the Sullivan Arena to provide an emergency mass shelter during the COVID-19 crisis. Our previous Bean’s Cafe location is closed to clients and used strictly for food storage, food donation drop-off, and meal production. You may drop off donations of food every day of the week between 9 am and 4 pm. Non- food items should be donated at the Sullivan Arena. Visit our Give Help page for details.
Please note, we no longer offer mail service for clients. All mail for clients should be sent to: General Delivery, 800 Ingra St. Anchorage, AK 99501. Sorry, no exceptions. Client mail received at our Admin office or the Cafe will be returned to the post office and held for up to 4 weeks.
For information on how you can help us, please visit our Give Help page.
Children’s Lunchbox Fundraising Campaign
In order to meet increased demand for food services, the Children’s Lunchbox needs your help with donations of food and funds for feeding children and families. Our need is greater than ever with the onset of COVID-19. Find out more by clicking here.
Feeding the Hungry and Homeless Since 1979
Vision and Mission
We exist to fight hunger for all ages, one meal at a time while providing a pathway to self-sufficiency with dignity and respect.
“The premise of Bean’s Cafe is a deep belief in the inherent dignity of every person, a belief that people respond with kindness when treated kindly, with trust when trusted, and respectfully when respected. Our aim is not to set up a value system – determining what is right or wrong – or a way of life for persons, but allow them to form their own. In this situation, a person is not pressured into acting in a special way, and their response is free, lasting, and more fully themselves.”
– Bean’s Cafe Founding Documents, 1979
Aside from serving meals three times a day and providing shelter to those in need, we also provide a variety of support services:
Adult Meals
We provide three meals a day to anyone in need 365 days a year. Not all of our clients are homeless – many individuals struggle to make ends meet, and Bean’s Cafe offers a place where they can receive a free meal without judgement.
Meal service is at the Sullivan Arena shelter and our Bean’s Cafe location is meal production and food storage only.
Child Nutrition Program
This program has changed slightly with the arrival of COVID-19 to Anchorage. You can find updates on The Children’s Lunchbox page.
The Children’s Lunchbox is our child nutrition program. We provide fresh meals to local community programs serving children. These meals are prepared and delivered to partner sites. Additionally, during the school year, we package and deliver thousands of bags filled with three meals each to eight Title I schools in Anchorage, There are enough bags for every student, to ensure that no child goes home hungry on Friday when many after-school programs aren’t open and offering meals. Finally, we provide meals even when school is out for summer. Our Summer Food Program partners with many of the same community programs we partner with during the school year, as well as a few more. These meals are FREE to those 18 years of age and younger.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider
Client Services/Navigation at Sullivan Arena- this contract ends Wednesday, September 15. Please contact the Municipality of Anchorage for contact details for the new operator.
Client Services offers a variety of services to assist clients – no matter their needs – and all free of charge.
Client Services staff works with clients to find housing, jobs, and more. Our client population includes some of the most vulnerable people in our community: seniors, veterans, people with physical and mental disabilities, and families just not able to make ends meet. In addition, we serve individuals with challenges in mental health, criminal histories, and those struggling with alcohol and drug addictions. We do not turn away anyone in need of food – we simply ask that guests follow basic campus rules: Respectful Behavior, No Drugs/Alcohol, and No Weapons. The day shelter provides a safe alternative to being on the street and offers individuals services such as:
- Basic Necessities: Grab a pair of socks, a bar of soap, or even cough drops
- Referrals: Mental Health, Medical, Financial, Substance Abuse, Jobs, Housing, and anything else a client might need
- Housing Specialists: We work with specialists from a partner agency who work with clients to find appropriate permanent accommodations
Thousands of Anchorage children are considered at-risk of not having enough food. Annually The Children’s Lunchbox serves more than 200,000 meals to more than 3,000 kids.
The Children’s Lunchbox (TCL) is a program of Bean’s Cafe, founded in 2004 in response to the growing number of hungry children in our community. Since its humble beginnings at Mt. View Elementary, our child nutrition program has grown up, and now serves more meals than Bean’s Cafe!
Visit The Children’s Lunchbox page for our current food campaign.
Bean’s Cafe has a history of helping those in need. Whether you’re a client or volunteer, we’d like to hear your history.