Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Chesterfield Inlet (Jan 11/06) - The annual RCMP Christmas food drive in Chesterfield Inlet allowed 13 families to have an extra-special holiday season.

Const. Allan Nickerson has been involved with the food drive for the past three years.

RCMP Cpl. Kurt Kamotzki, wildlife officer Bob King and RCMP Const. Allan Nickerson, from left, delivered Christmas food hampers to 13 families in Chesterfield Inlet this past month. - photo courtesy of Allan Nickerson

He says he always gets excited about taking part and enjoys having the opportunity to help less-fortunate families in the community.

"Taking part in the food drive really gets me in the Christmas spirit, especially when I'm so far away from my friends and family down south," says Nickerson.

"Nothing gives me more pleasure than being in the community for Christmas and being able to help out some families."

The severe housing shortage in Chesterfield Inlet leads to some dwellings being home to more than a dozen people during the holidays.

The extra crunch of family members makes it hard for providers in each household to make ends meet during the festive season.

Nickerson says 2005 was the best year yet for donations to the food drive.

He says each of the 13 families visited received a turkey, ham, or both, depending on the number of people staying in the home.

"Along with hams and turkeys, we were able to provide boxes of food, juice drinks, a box of oranges and some Christmas candy.

"When we made our way around the community on Dec. 22, we were met with smiles, tears of joy, hugs, handshakes and a Merry Christmas from everyone."

Delivering the Christmas hampers was a challenge due to -32C temperatures, before windchill.

The RCMP had no vehicle to get the donations around the community, so a call went out to local wildlife officer Bob King for assistance.

Nickerson says he, King and Cpl. Kurt Kamotzki delivered the food around the hamlet using two qamutiiqs.

"The weather couldn't stop Santa, so we wouldn't let it stop us from getting to the families.

"The food drive wouldn't have been possible if not for the generosity of Marc Ippiak and the Chesterfield Inlet Development Corp., Brad Amirault and our local Co-op, Shawn Maxwell and the Northern store, and the staff at Victor Sammurtok school, especially Ana Leishman, Glen Brocklebank and the student council."