Some communities have a local store, but they usually carry only the basics and can be very expensive. Plan ahead, and contact someone at your school for their favorite online sites for necessities.
Shopping in Anchorage
Normally, our LPSD team will meet you when you arrive and spend a few days shopping in Anchorage. We visit stores such as Fred Meyer, Walmart, and Costco and pack up totes to mail. Make space in your luggage for frozen or chilled food and check it as baggage when you fly; airlines allow checked bags up to 50 lbs., and anything heavier costs extra.
If you are traveling on your own, plan to spend a couple of days in Anchorage to shop for food and mail or freight it to your village. Hotel rates are very high in the summer, so plan accordingly. The travel coordinator can provide recommendations.
If you have frozen items shipped, it’s best to be at your site when the boxes arrive so they make it into a freezer as soon as possible.
Ordering Online
- Amazon Prime is an excellent place to start; free shipping on most items means lots of savings.
- Fred Meyer and Walmart offer bush order services for rural Alaska.
- Span Alaska specializes in bulk dry goods.
- Frozen meat can be ordered from specialty companies that ship to rural Alaska.
Planning Your Shopping List
Plan for about two weeks of food when you first arrive. When making your list, think about:
- Favorite meals to cook
- Daily breakfast and lunch supplies
- Snacks
- Spices, cooking oils, and baking supplies
- Toiletries and medications
- Cleaning supplies and household items