Clyde River (Nov 29/04) - By Nov. 16, Matthew Iqaqrialu had run out of food and was unsure how he would provide for his family.

"That day, I had nothing, no food," said Iqaqrialu, who is without a job and waiting for a social assistance cheque.SUBHEAD: Fire department helps more than 100 families

Matthew Iqaqrialu, along with Jasper Palituq, 5, and Rebecca Palituq, 9, display some of the food the Clyde River fire department distributed to families in the community. More than 100 families received bags of supplies on Nov. 16. - photo courtesy of Peter Iqalukjuak

Then he heard the fire department was distributing food to families in need.

After receiving a bag filled with staple food items such as soup, tea, coffee and pasta, as well as cleaning products, he returned home to make a meal for his three children.

He was so thankful for the supplies that he called a neighbour to have his picture taken at around 11 p.m. the same evening.

A 1999 labour force survey completed by the Government of Nunavut's department of statistics put the community's unemployment rate at 31.4 per cent. But numbers do not mean much to those who live there.

"There are no jobs," Iqaqrialu said.

Young couples with children and older people living on social assistance are often the most in need, said deputy fire chief Sam Palituq.

Nearly 100 bags valued at about $200 each were distributed that day.

All of the food was donated by the Northern Store.

"They were going to throw it out, so they gave it to us," said Palituq.

"We do it whenever we can, as much as we can."

Ads on the radio helped promote the food distribution.

Some firefighters will also deliver country food to those who are unable to go out hunting, Palituq said.

The firefighters also hold weekly meetings to determine how they can best help the community.