In Our Backyard Alaska

10/03/2026

We're looking forward to seeing friends from 1-4 pm this Sunday, October 4, at the In Our Backyard gardens as you drop off bags of leaves and volunteer to prep the gardens for winter. It's time to harvest the final items, mulch leaves in to the beds, and put everything away. Hot drinks provided.

09/16/2026

The folks from Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, so greatly affected by Typhoon Halong last year, could use help preparing for winter. It is fall and they are harvesting and putting up native foods for their families without many of the supplies they lost in last fall's devastating storm.

09/15/2026

This summer, In Our Backyard gratefully welcomed several volunteer groups from other parts of Alaska and the country. Here, the youth group from Abiding Hope Lutheran in Colorado shares their memories of their time in AK - you'll find several photos of them helping with garden projects at In Our Backyard Alaska

09/12/2026

Great volunteer opportunity!

Please share!
📣 We need 150 volunteers on Oct. 26!

So many of you step up every time we ask — thank you for everything you've already given our unhoused neighbors.

Project Homeless Connect, Anchorage's biggest resource fair for our unhoused neighbors, returns to the Egan Center on Monday, Oct. 26. In one place, guests can access healthcare, housing resources, a hot meal and a winter coat — and it only happens because volunteers show up to make it work.

Last year, more than double the expected number of guests came, and long lines meant longer waits for people who needed help. This year we're planning for that scale from day one — which means we need about 150 volunteers on Oct. 26, plus smaller setup/prep teams on Oct. 23 and 25.

Volunteer roles include:
🔹 Setting up the space
🔹 Guiding guests
🔹 Serving lunch
🔹 Distributing winter gear

Morning, afternoon, and all-day shifts are all available — a few hours or the whole day, it all matters.

👉 aceh.org/phc

Already signed up? Thank you — see you there. Know someone who'd want to help? Please let them know.💙

Art by Duke Russell

09/03/2026

A volunteer group from St. John UMC Anchorage and Central Lutheran Church worked to winterize the shower/ bathroom trailer at In Our Backyard. Three cheers for these volunteers!

09/02/2026

A common question is, are there spaces available in our tiny homes? How does one apply?

The best answer is, please reach out to Catholic Social Services - Alaska and ask to work with a caseworker. They provide the client screening for our program, and thus are in the best position to be an advocate for a potential resident. If you don't meet our criteria, they'll know what other programs might be a better fit.

09/02/2026

09/01/2026

Drop by on Thursday evenings in September to harvest berries and other good things in our garden and forest forage. All welcome, bring your own container.

08/27/2026

Anchorage is an amazingly compassionate community. Please consider contributing to the Good Neighbor Fund. It has helped guests from In Our Backyard.

A phone. A prescription. A document fee. Small things — until they're the barrier between a neighbor and help. In Anchorage, The Good Neighbor Fund clears these everyday barriers, with 100% of every gift going straight to support. Since November, neighbors have given more than $187,000.

Meet the people behind The Good Neighbor Fund: https://alaskacf.org/the-good-neighbor-fund-immediate-help-lasting-hope/

The Good Neighbor Fund

08/26/2026

Thanks to the "Green Team" who worked moving wood chips, trimming and weeding recently. We are having an impromptu party this Thursday evening, 8/27 from 5:30- 8:00 for a 'Pick & Chip". There are still more wood chips to move and lots to pick in the Food Forest.

Some berries that are ready to harvest include black, red and white currents, and service berries as well as raspberries and other fancy stuff. Bring your own container for picking.