Denise Coulter estimated that meant 200 people in Iqaluit will go hungry this week.

"We don't have anything," said Coulter, secretary of the Niqinik Nuatsivik Nunavut Food Bank.

To keep their doors open, Coulter said they needed to receive $800 worth of food in donations from community businesses and residents. Volunteers were scheduled to set up a table to collect cash and non-perishable food donations at NorthMart Saturday afternoon.

Though the food bank received a $16,200 cash donation from First Air -- the funds came from ticket sales at the annual President's Charity Ball -- Coulter said the cheque was still being processed.

"Thank God for that event. It was the first high-profile event that recognized the need for the food bank."

She hoped to have the money in food bank coffers this week.

The generous donation will allow the organization to operate for a considerable time.

It will also help volunteers formulate long-term solutions and will give them enough breathing room to look at branching out into the rest of the territory.

The food bank serves only Iqaluit.

"We hope to use this to get things started on creating sustainable funding," said Coulter.

"Right now, we just go week to week. We're not able to strategize."