Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 09/02) - People were generous this past Christmas, and city organizations that depend on charity were appreciative.

"We could not do without Christmas," said Arlene Hache, president of the Yellowknife Women's Centre, which did slightly better than last year when it came to donations.

Monetary donations to that organization totalled $15,000, helped mainly by a cheque from BHP Diamonds worth $5,000, Hache added.

Named and unnamed donations to the Salvation Army reached over $70,000.

"We are probably the most visible (organization)," said director of community services Iris Hamlyn, referring to the Salvation Army.

"Maybe there is more awareness than before."

Hamlyn added the organization budgeted for $70,000, which pays for the Christmas programs it runs.

People also donated food and clothing to both the Salvation Army, Women's Centre and other charity-operated organizations.

The Women's Centre used donations to put on a huge Christmas dinner for up to 400 people.

Free swims and movies

This year as in previous years the Yellowknife YWCA has been giving a different kind of donation to the people of Yellowknife.

Rather than giving one-on-one donations in the form of cash, food or gifts the YWCA runs a campaign around Christmas which offers free swims and movies.

For the past two years, Bellanca Developments has been donating the use of the Capitol Theatre for a day.

The turnout has been very encouraging and last year's viewing took place Dec. 28.

"The theatre was filled with adults and children who don't often get to go to the movies," remarked Don Babey, director of organizational development or the Yellowknife YWCA.

Along with Bellanca's donation of the theatre, the City of Yellowknife also donated pool passes to the YWCA.

This also gives families as well as individuals who wouldn't normally be able to go swimming a chance to get in the water.

Dave Ritchie of the Yellowknife Food Bank said city residents donated $12,000 in cash in the last week before Christmas to avert a lean holiday.

"We were a little concerned before Christmas, but things picked up and we should be OK for a few months now," Ritchie said.

Forty people, most of them with families, used the food bank on Dec. 29.

The Yellowknife food bank is open every second Saturday.

- with files from Luke Marshall and Richard Gleeson