IQALUIT - A fundraiser to help family travel to attend the funeral of a mother and two daughters found dead in Iqaluit raised $7,000 this past weekend.

Papatsi Rojas, 15, left, along with her mother Aluki, browse through the items on sale at the fundraiser for the Enuaraq family at the Parish Hall in Iqaluit this past weekend. The event raised $7,000. - Jeanne Gagnon/NNSL photo

Residents of the city bid on items such as clothes, food, crafts, shoes, boots, bath products and TVs at the Parish Hall in Iqaluit.

Vivian Sula Enuaraq, 29, Alexandra Degrasse, 7 and Aliyah Degrasse, 2, were found dead at their home on June 7. Sylvain Degrasse, 44, Enuaraq's partner and father of the two girls, was found dead at the city's cemetery.

Looee Arreak said the money will be used to help the Enuaraq family go to Pond Inlet for the funeral.

James Arreak, Enuaraq's uncle, said he is overwhelmed with the support the family received.

"It's overwhelming to see the support and compassion shown by the people and the community. It really helps," he said. "We're doing our best under the situation but these kinds of things.... When we come together like this as a community, it makes the pain somewhat more bearable."

Aluki Rojas and her 15-year-old daughter Papatsi Rojas attended the fundraiser.

"It's unimaginable what has happened, so it's important for the community to come together and support the family," said Aluki Rojas. "I don't even have words to describe why it's important. I think it's just a given that it's important."

Also browsing through the items for sale were Kristy Etchegary with her 18-month-old son Jake Etchegary.

"It's made my day happier to know I am contributing to something that's so important to me – family," she said.

An account has been also been set up at the Royal Bank for donations.

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