INUVIK - The Inuvik homeless shelter got a helping hand from some visitors last month.

The Boom and Bust Economies conference made a donation of $1,040 to go towards supplies and building renovations.

Peter Clarkson presents homeless shelter staff member Cindy Stewart with a cheque for $1,040. The money was collected during the Boom and Bust Economies conference last month. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

Conference co-ordinator Peter Clarkson said the money was raised in part thanks to a donation by the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.

"A muskox qiviut sweater was donated by IRC for a raffle at the conference," said Clarkson.

"We at the conference thought it would be great to use the sweater as a fundraiser for a local organization."

Clarkson said he knew the homeless shelter was looking for money to purchase supplies.

"Perfect, we thought this was a good way to donate and put something back into the community," he said.

Tickets were sold at $20 per stub, with a total of 52 tickets made.

"We had no problem selling those," he said.

Homeless shelter staff member Cindy Stewart said the money will go to supplies they are short on.

The plans are to stock up on personal hygiene products, then to purchase a barbecue for the shelter.

Stewart also has other money put aside to buy a few more TVs and the donation will help that fund as well.

The shelter also has a summer garden project going on.

The work started with making planter boxes for flowers and the shelter's clients recently painted the outside of the building.

"We've been at it for about a month," said Stewart.

There are also plans to build a deck in front of the shelter, so the clients can use the facility for outdoor meals and gatherings.