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IQALUIT - Nunavut's food banks are getting some much-needed funding to buy food and the food bank in the capital city is planning to share its chunk of the change with other food banks in the communities.

The Food Insecurity Survey interviewed 94 users of the Niqinik Nuatsivik food bank and other services in May 2010. The food bank has 1,062 visits per year 96.8 per cent of users of such services are Inuit 72.3 per cent of users are unemployed 60.1 per cent of users' main source of income is social assistance 78.7 per cent of users did not complete high school 53.9 per cent of users have the most difficulty getting food in the winter Source: Survey by McGill University and Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre

"We're really hoping we can help," said Jen Hayward, volunteer chair of the board for the Niqinik Nuatsivik Food Bank in Iqaluit.

The food bank received $16,000 from Food Banks Canada to use as it wishes.

Hayward said the board chose to share this money with other food banks in Nunavut.

They are working on a user-friendly application package so food banks in communities such as Cambridge Bay, Arviat and Arctic Bay

could apply for funding.

There are no limitations on what the funding could be used for and the food bank in Iqaluit is going to use it to purchase food.

In March 2011 alone, the food bank served 562 individuals and 134 households. In the run of a year, they will serve 1,062 users.

With the rising cost of food, Hayward said the food bank has spent more than $50,000 on its 2011-2012 sealift.

"We already know it will not be enough to get us through so we're working on contingency plans," she said.

In 2010-2011, the food bank's sealift cost about $36,000 and extra food had to be ordered.

Under the federal government's Nutrition North Canada program, replacing the Food Mail program, administered by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, healthy staple foods for Nunavummiut were supposed to be cheaper.

Hayward said though they only order non-perishables, they have not seen a reduction in cost.

Once the board decides how food banks can apply, the information will be made public.

"We're hoping (the donation) will have a positive influence for all clients and users," Hayward said.

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