Yellowknife (Aug 18/03) - For the past five years, Dave Ritchie has volunteered for a number of community organizations.

He is the president of the Yellowknife Food Bank, a director for the Folk on the Rocks music festival and a volunteer with Victims Services.

News/North: When did you start volunteering?

Dave Ritchie: I first volunteered for Folk on the Rocks in 1997 and then in the fall I joined the board of directors. They needed a new stage for the 1998 festival. Since I had some construction experience, I managed the construction, which was done mostly with volunteer help.

N/N: When did you join the food bank?

DR: I joined the food bank in 1999. They needed more volunteers or they were going to close down. That's what happens with volunteer organizations. People will be very involved for two or three years and then become burned out. That's why we're always looking for more volunteers.

N/N: How long have you been with Victims Services?

DR: I only started last year and I haven't done a lot with them yet. Basically volunteers help victims of crime go through the court system. They would help fill out forms and police statements.

N/N: Why did you start volunteering?

DR: I came to Yellowknife to make a new start and I was able to start over again. I wanted to do something to help the community.

N/N: So, for you volunteering is about giving back to the community?

DR: Everyone has treated me well so I wanted to give back to the community. It's also in my background. My father was a Presbyterian Minister and he was always helping people.

N/N: What do you get out of volunteering?

DR: Mainly it's the satisfaction of knowing that I've helped people. That just gives me a really good feeling.

N/N: How many people depend on the food bank?

DR: We're usually helping about 65 to 70 families every two weeks. There are a number of people who do depend on us. About one-third of the customers are single-parent families. For some, we're just helping them out for those short-term difficulties. They really need our help.

N/N: How much do you spend on groceries?

DR: We spend about $3,500 a month on groceries.

N/N: Where does that money and the food come from?

DR: A lot of the money comes from donations from the community. This year the service clubs have donated a lot to the food bank. We were able to raise about $20,000. We also receive a lot of food donations from the grocery stores.

N/N: How important are volunteers in a community like Yellowknife?

DR: I'm always amazed at the help available in this town.

I just finished helping the Native Women's Centre put on a concert on Friday and Saturday. They asked me to help because I'm on the list for Victims Services and I have experience with concerts. The food bank ran the beverage sales at the concert. They did it at last notice and I had to call around to get some help. I was amazed at how many people were willing to help out. People even stayed behind to clean up at 2 in the morning.

N/N: How much do groups like the food bank and Folk on the Rocks depend on volunteers?

DR: Every summer we have to have 150 to 200 volunteers to make the festival go. Otherwise Folk on the Rocks would never happen.

N/N: How many people volunteer at the food bank?

DR: We have about 25 people helping at the food bank. We try to spread the work around so nobody gets tired and burned out.

N/N: What's it like to see all those people helping out for a cause?

DR: It gives me a really good feeling. They know they are helping out for a good cause so they work hard at what they do. I think there is something special about the people in Yellowknife. They give a little extra.

N/N: What makes people here more willing to give?

DR: I think there's a Northern attitude. I call it the code of the North. For the people of the North it comes naturally that they help each other out. The only way to survive in the harsh climate is to help each other.

N/N: How long do you think you will keep volunteering?

DR: I'm going to keep at it. Volunteering helped me take my mind off of some of my problems. That is why I started volunteering for Folk on the Rocks. Now I've made a lot of friends, which keeps me going.