Silver Bay Seafoods, which started in Sitka 15 years ago, has connections that reach more than 5,000 miles across the world to Ukraine, prompting the company to reach out with sizable monetary and food donations to help those affected by Russia’s war on its neighboring country.
“We were devastated by the reports and knew we needed to help, so we kicked off a donation program,” said Abby Fredrick, Silver Bay Seafoods director of communications.
After only a few weeks, fishermen, employees and the company raised $130,000 to donate to the World Central Kitchen, a worldwide hunger relief program. In addition to the money, a 20-foot container of Silver Bay Seafoods canned pink salmon was shipped to Ukraine.
“As a food producer, feeding people seemed to be the best way we could offer some relief during this incredibly difficult time,” Fredrick said.
Silver Bay Seafoods is majority owned by fishermen and has processing plants in Sitka, Naknek, False Pass, Kodiak, Valdez and Craig.
The company’s connections to Ukraine include employees with family, friends and colleagues who have been impacted by the war, including fleet manager Chris “Coach” Hansen who was in Kharkiv with his wife and her daughter at the beginning of the attacks by Russian armed forces. They eventually found refuge in the Czech Republic, Fredrick said.
After considering ways to help, the company found that donating its canned pink salmon was the best option for direct food distribution in Ukraine, particularly considering the challenging circumstances, said Rich Riggs, Silver Bay co-founder.
“Our fishermen owners and staff are especially thankful to those that have contributed with the freight and logistics associated with this humanitarian effort,” Riggs said.
Riggs also called attention to the trucking company that hauled the donated fish to the shipping dock in Seattle.
“John Tkachenko is the owner of Container Dynamics Freight Services, and was born in Odessa, Ukraine,” Riggs said. “John trucked the first leg of the product’s journey to Ukraine.”
Libby Moore, Silver Bay chief administrative officer, commented in an email: “Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with Ukraine until peace is restored.”
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