Homer food pantry receives $10,000 donation at Credit Union 1 grand opening

By Marcia Kuszmaul

Homer Independent Press

Credit Union 1 opened the doors of its new Homer branch on Tuesday in the former Fireweed Gallery building with a grand party and a grand gesture — a $10,000 donation to the Homer Community Food Pantry. 

In keeping with the building’s 26-year history as a showcase for local artists, CU1 has incorporated local art into the building and its decor, including Krista Etzwiler’s 2,000-piece handcrafted ceramic installation, “Tidal Mosaic,” behind the teller counter.

Irene Randolph, former owner of Fireweed Gallery, attended the grand opening.

“I’m pleased that Credit Union 1 is featuring local artists in the building,” Randolph said. “Krista Etzwiler’s art installation adds to the flavor of Kachemak Bay.” 

Randolph established her gallery in 1994 and built the building at the corner of Pioneer Avenue and Kachemak Way in 1999.

Christina Whiting worked at Fireweed Gallery from 2002 to 2012 and exhibited her photography there for 23 years until the gallery closed in 2025. She appreciated seeing how Credit Union 1 acknowledged the building’s legacy.

“I’m impressed with how Credit Union 1 has transformed the space,” Whiting said. “It is bright, open and welcoming while honoring the building’s history. I especially appreciate that they’re showcasing work by local artists and preserving special features of the original Fireweed Gallery, including the ravens on the back of the building and a small gallery sign in one of the interior rooms.”

In his remarks to kick off the celebration, CEO Mark Burgess reflected on CU1’s purpose: “to be Alaska’s trusted financial partner, invest in the communities that we serve, and unlock the potential that’s all around us.”

To that end, CU1 selected the Homer Community Food Pantry as its “2026 Leading Change Partner,”  an annual designation recognizing organizations that are helping to lead positive change in Alaska. Pantry board members were on hand to accept a $10,000 donation from CU1.

In accepting the donation, Karen Nogle, food pantry board president, admitted that she knew nothing about CU1 when the pantry was invited to become a partner. When she went to CU1’s website, Nogle said she saw CU1’s statement that ‘‘we are more than just a financial institution, we’re a social movement for positive change in Alaska.”

“That’s a bold statement,” Nogle said. “You (CU1) consistently seem to walk your talk . . . That’s a partnership we are comfortable embracing.”

Ever a booster for the food pantry, board member Deb Schmidt invited everyone to the food pantry’s “Alaskan Art and Adventure Auction” fund raiser on Aug. 26 at The Porcupine Theater.

“Now it’s $50 a ticket, and that covers the cost of the venue, hopefully,” Schmidt said.

CEO Burgess was quick to seize the opportunity to help the food pantry even more and said CU1 would cover the cost of the venue so 100% of ticket sales will go directly to support the pantry.

Caring for community is part of CU1’s founding story. A group of teachers organized its precursor, the Anchorage Teachers Federal Credit Union, in 1952 because teachers were having trouble accessing affordable financial services. Today, Alaska remains its one and only home.

In an earlier interview with Homer Independent Press, Burgess confessed to being a birder and having visited Homer numerous times, including multiple visits for the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival. And he said he had heard from local customers about the inconveniences of having to drive to Soldotna to access a branch.

“Maybe it’d be cool if we had one closer,” he said.

He also had read Homer’s 2045 comprehensive plan.

“You talked a lot about attracting families that want to be part of the community, that grew up here and want to stay here, but they don’t have as many options,” he said. “And all of those things sounded like things that we care about as an organization.”

Burgess said CU1 has started working a lot with small businesses in the last few years.

“And Homer is a town full of small businesses,” he said. “So being able to find places for families to get homes, being able to support small businesses and a really cool community like Homer, why wouldn’t we want to be here?”