INUVIK
Arctic Paws chair Angela McInnes wasn't sure how to describe the feeling of receiving several thousand dollars in a spur-of-the-moment decision from the 100 People Who Care Inuvik organization Monday, Feb. 27.

Raven Firth, board member of Arctic Paws, left, stands with Margaret Miller of the Inuvik Food bank and Matthew Dares of 100 People Who Care Inuvik. Arctic Paws received the group's second donation Monday, Feb. 27. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Arctic Paws is a non-profit animal-care clinic, mostly geared toward offering spay and neutering services in the community.

"We were already up here in December, so I came in here not really expecting it," McInnes said.

"It was just a nice opportunity to talk about what we do. I'm sure when I leave the building I'll start screaming inside the vehicle and have to drive around a little bit. It's kind of surreal to be given that amount of money all at once when you're not expecting it, without working for it. It's pretty spectacular."

"Arctic Paws was guaranteed to be receiving $6,400 from members at the event Monday. Contributions from absent members still had to be counted, so the final total was not available by press time."

100 People Who Care Inuvik was started in the fall last year and is based on the premise of gathering community members who each give $100 four times per year. That money is earmarked to local charities or organizations. Three organizations have the opportunity to present their case for the funding at each meeting and then members vote on who should receive the money. The recipient receives all of the donations.

The Inuvik Food Bank was the group's first recipient late last year.

"I was told to just say we bought food," joked food bank treasurer Margaret Miller while making a speech about what her organization did with the funding.

She recalled the food bank's account being dangerously low in November 2016.

"We were in danger of having to close our doors, as we had insufficient funds to purchase groceries," she said.

Fortunately, craft fairs, food drives and volunteer generosity kept the food bank afloat.

"The crowning glory was the support of the 100 People Who Care group," said Miller. "This puts the food bank back on a more solid foundation."

For McInnes, the money means the animal care organization can invest in a euthanasia service.

"The hugest thing we're going to do with this money right now is the euthanasia program," she said.

"We're going to offer the euthanasia program, we're going to train a bunch of people in how to do it properly and then we'll be able to help people when they need it, whether it's palliative care or an emergency."

She said it's hard to seek funding in the traditional way for a program like Arctic Paws.

"I think it's pretty amazing that you have a bunch of people who took the initiative to do something like this," said McInnes.

"The opportunity to be able to come up and tell people what you do and have all those people in front of you listening and pass that information on is invaluable. I love the idea and absolutely love it in a small community like this."

The Inuvik Transition House and Children First Society also presented at the meeting on Monday.

Group organizer Matthew Dares said it was nice to see some growth in membership and in people showing up to the meeting. He said membership stands at about 80 people right now, with the goal of course being 100.

"We had three great presentations on three organizations that shared with us the work they're doing, and that's exciting for us," said Dares. "I think it's been very successful."

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