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TUKTOYAKTUK - Everyone loves going to jamborees and community events thanks to the food, music and fun - it is hard not to have a good time.

But not everyone thinks about the work that happens behind the scenes.

In Tuktoyaktuk, if there is a community event, you can be sure that Ella Jean Nogasak will be cooking up a storm or serving food to the hungry masses.

"When I volunteer it's just when they're having feasts or gatherings, like first of July or things like that," she said. "I like to cook."

There are always different types of gatherings with different food expectations. In the summer people are usually looking for barbecued meals, while indoor events might call for soups and roasts.

Nogasak said gatherings depend on donations of country food from people in the community.

"We usually cook the usual stuff like that like hamburgers, wieners," she said, adding she preferred when, "there's people donating native foods like fish, muktuk."

While most people enjoy going to jamborees, Nogasak said being behind the scenes can be just as fun. When you're helping out, you also get the enjoyment of knowing that you are lending a hand, she said.

"I enjoy it. I like making sure people have something to eat," she said. "It's good to see family and friends."

Volunteering is something that Nogasak began doing later in life. Friends in Tuk say she never misses an event nowadays. She said she isn't looking for thanks - she really just enjoys helping out.

"It's important to help out because they do need volunteers, and sometimes they're short," she said. "With gatherings like that you make sure that people are happy and enjoying themselves."