SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Times are tough for the Yellowknife Food Bank.

"Demand is up, prices are up and donations are down a bit," said Dave Ritchie, president of the food bank.

"Last year we were giving out bags at $20 and we were giving out only 100 every two weeks," he said.

This year the bags cost $30 each and the food bank has been forced to cap the number given out at 150 every two weeks.

"We've had to turn people away before noon hour on a Saturday," said Ritchie. The only other place for those people to go would be the Salvation Army, he added.

The higher costs mean the food bank is spending $9,000 a month instead of the $4,000 it was spending earlier in the year.

"We're still getting by," said Ritchie. But, the organization's funds will only see it through another four or five months, he said.

Luckily donations are set to rise in time for Christmas thanks to Tom Jackson's benefit concerts at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre. The audience is being asked to bring non-perishable food items with all donations going to the food bank. The concerts take place Dec. 18 and 19 at 7 p.m.

Additionally, local musician Stephen Pretty will be putting on a concert this weekend at Twist, which also features the band Giant Con, to benefit the food bank. The show will also be held on Dec. 18 and 19 starting at 8 p.m.

The next scheduled date for the food bank, which opens every second Saturday, is Jan. 2, 2010.

The Salvation Army has food hampers available Monday through Friday except Dec. 25, Dec. 28, and Jan. 1.