Cambridge Bay (Jan 08/07) - Who says mob mentality can't be a good thing?

Businesses and individuals in Cambridge Bay raised nearly $13,000 in 72 hours to assemble Christmas gift hampers that were delivered three days before Christmas to 61 needy families.

The project snowballed when it became known that the Cambridge Bay Fire Department was donating $500, said Jean Conrad, communications officer for the brigade. Other organizations jumped on board. Fire department volunteers got the word out through local cable and radio.

"Canadian North came on board with two tickets, so we made it a community event open to everybody," she said. "We did really well and it was a three-day blitz."

Companies that donated $500 and individuals who donated $100 were eligible to win the tickets.

The blitz was so successful, each hamper contained supplies for a complete Christmas dinner, toys for the kids and staple foods.

The fire hall became the depot for donations and firefighters and volunteers got together to help assemble the basket.

"It was just a very festive thing and we had lights outside so people knew...we were there," Conrad said.

Paul Emingok was the lucky winner of the Canadian North tickets, and said he's thinking about heading to Edmonton in March for the World Curling Championships.Emingok said he forgot all about it until he got the phone call Christmas Eve telling him he'd won airfare south. "All I thought about was children who are needy this time of year, the families who cannot afford turkeys or food for themselves or their kids during the Christmas season," he said of his donation.

The success of the Christmas basket campaign has Conrad thinking about staging it again.

"We're thinking about doing it again next year," she said, adding quickly: "with a little more planning this time."