IKPIARJUK/ARCTIC BAY - When Anna Qaunaq heard on the local community radio station that people said they didn't have anything to cook for lunch or supper, she decided to do something about it.

"People were selling their stuff like video games, Xboxes and personal items," she said.

Qaunaq herself went on the radio saying she was going to start a food bank. The response was immediate and after that she got calls for people looking to volunteer and donate items.

This is how the Ajagutaq Food Bank in Arctic Bay was born.

On the committee are Qaunaq as the secretary/treasurer, Piuyuq Enoogoo as the chairperson, Tina Pauloosie as the vice chairperson and members Ina Tunraq, Tootalik Oyukuluk, Sipporah Allurut and Aglak Pettypiece.

The food bank has been in operation since the end of January and already the community is embracing the cause.

As of Feb. 4, donations were being dropped off and picked up at two of the committee members' houses.

Items coming in include canned food, pasta, frozen juice, crackers and rice.

"We've been requesting for healthy food and filling food," Qaunaq said.

In addition to getting individual donations, businesses such as First Air, Taqqut Co-op and Frobisher Inn in Iqaluit have offered their assistance.

"They've been really generous and very helpful," said Enoogoo.

Qaunaq said the co-op donated food to help them set up and there was a sale of homemade muffins and doughnuts. As of Feb. 4, $350 had been raised. That money was used to buy meat.

First Air donated two return tickets from Arctic Bay to Iqaluit for a raffle while the Frobisher Inn chipped in a three night stay at the hotel plus a dinner.

The draw will be done on Feb. 14.

This is not the first time Arctic Bay has had a food bank. Qaunaq said someone had started one two years ago but it faded out.

The food bank has approached other organizations for assistance including the health committee.

"If we don't have community support this will disappear in the long run," she said.

In October, the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. launched the engagement process to develop the territory's poverty reduction action plan.

Enoogoo said the topic of poverty has to be discussed out in the open and is not isolated to Arctic Bay.

"People won't say they need food in person but they will say it to someone they trust," she said.

Every day since opening its doors the food bank has received more calls for food than they have food to give.

"I'm pretty sure it will not help all the people going hungry but we will help out some families," said Enoogoo.

The committee's efforts have not gone unnoticed.

"With what the federal government is doing to our communities, with the unrealistically high food prices through the introduction of the new Nutrition North Program, it is great that community-minded individuals are rising to the occasion to help out where they can," said Ron Elliott, MLA for Quttiktuq.

He said, as MLA, this is the type of action he likes to see within the community.

Members of the committee are looking for a location to store the food and will continue fundraising to buy food.

A Facebook group called "Let's Fight Hunger in our Community - Arctic Bay" has been started to track the progress and raise awareness about the issue.

"In other communities that don't have food banks maybe they will be willing to start them up," Qaunaq said.