Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (June 10/02) - While food banks in the South rely primarily on donations, Iqaluit's version purchases 90 per cent of its food.

"It's an unknown concept down south, where there's a bigger market to get donations," says John French, Niqinik Natsivik's new president.

French hopes the food bank's new freezer will lead to more donations.

"We're accepting donations of country food," he says, adding that he's trying to get charitable status, so people can receive tax receipts.

Meanwhile, the food bank still doesn't have enough product to keep up with demand.

"We run short every week," says French.

The operation bank is open every Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Dome building youth centre.

"We very rarely get past two o'clock," he says.

"We have to turn people away."

Grocery stores give the bank discounts on food.

But French says he is surprised that service organizations in Iqaluit haven't helped out more.

One good sign: the Department of Health is planning to give the organization a grant to buy some food.

French says the food bank needs volunteers and he hopes more local residents will get involved.

"It's all Southerners on our executive," he says.

He also wants people to reach deep into their cupboards and donate.

"We'll take anything they have," he says.

"Especially non-perishable goods. And we take frozen now."