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Food bank fundraiser in the works Wellness Centre relies on donations for food bank
Danielle Sachs
Northern News Services
Published Monday, July 29, 2013
IKALUKTUTIAK/CAMBRIDGE BAY
The West will meet the North in September with a scheduled fundraiser for the food bank and animal shelter in Cambridge Bay.
Featuring live music by Latitude 69, a Western theme and a draw for prizes, the night of dancing, dinner and entertainment is set for Sept. 21.
The food bank in Cambridge Bay operates out of the Wellness Centre. Food is provided by a counsellor, because sometimes it can be an emotional experience, said Janet Stafford, the executive director at the centre.
"The food bank is open once a month and it's to offset the needs of people who are not quite making ends meet," she said.
"We do have pre-screening because of overcrowding. We have to make sure we distribute items fairly."
The food bank operates on donations from the community and organizations like Arctic College and the Boy Scouts. Volunteers come in to fill up bags with dry goods like flour and rice.
"We have food bank fundraisers, like the one coming up in September. Every Christmas there's a fundraiser that helps put together big baskets," said Stafford.
To pad out the food bank contributions, the Wellness Centre often hosts social gatherings where people can get together for a bowl of soup or chili.
They also do a little bit of catering around the community, with all proceeds going right back into the food bank.
"All of our fees go back into the food bank," said Stafford.
"We might have a chili and bannock luncheon, for example, and all that money would go back into the food bank."
With the Western themed fundraiser coming up, donations of non-perishable food items will be accepted for a chance to win an iPad mini, said Natasha Lear, who is organizing the event.
The extra additions to the food bank will be needed at that point, when people start coming back to town.
"Food bank use varies," said Stafford. "Sometimes it's busier and more people need it but it decreases, like for example when most people get their taxes."
Stafford has noticed younger people using the food bank, but sometimes they don't necessarily know how to make simple meals from the ingredients.
Recipes are included with the goods, so if someone picks up bannock ingredients a simple recipe will be included. Or if they come in and get some pasta, food bank volunteers will include a recipe for a simple meat sauce using canned tomatoes.
"It's just some different ideas for whoever is getting food. There are different food items all the time," said Stafford.
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