SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - After tragedy struck Fort Good Hope last December students from the Interact Club at St. Patrick's High School took the initiative to raise $2,500 for the Northern community.

RCMP Const. Todd Scaplen, Greg Huvenaars, Sara Howard and Chris Silzer load art supplies fundraised by students travelling to Chief T'Selehye School in Fort Good Hope last Wednesday.

"Because it's a small community something like that effects everyone in it," said Susan Huvenaars, Career Counsellor and Interact Advisor at the school who helps organize the Interact Club at the school.

"It happened at one of our meetings," said Huvenaars.

"The students said it would be nice if we could do something for a Northern community."

Fort Good Hope, which is located 23 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle experienced three major fires last year. One fire which burned down a grocery store, occurred ten days before Christmas.

Huvenaars got in touch with Terri Connolly, a teacher at Chief T'Selehye School in Fort Good Hope and asked how the club could help.

"I was really excited that they were thinking of us and that the fundraising was initiated by students," said Connolly. She said she asked the students what they would like to use the donated funds for and they decided on an after school art program as well as a healthy snack program.

Through the generosity of Capitol Theatre St. Pat's students started selling movie passes in November.

"There are many overseas initiatives we're involved with but I thought there were places closer to home that we could help out," said Aimee Gauthier, a Grade 12 student and president of the Interact Club.

Grade 10 student and vice-president of the school, Nha Ly, said that because the community had a fire it shouldn't miss the opportunities that other students have available in other areas.

"I feel happy but I want to do more for them," said Ly. "Why stop there? We should look at giving more chances for other communities."

Through contact with St Patrick's RCMP liaison officer, Constable Todd Scaplen, the club was able to ship 200 pounds of art supplies for free with the RCMP to Fort Good Hope. The remainder of the funds was given to the school to buy local healthy snacks for the new program.

When the supplies arrived last Thursday, Connolly said the response of was one of overwhelming excitement as she gathered the students from all the classrooms.

"The students (from St. Patrick's high school) were really good role models," said Connolly.

"This initiative made our students see that they can make a difference."