Located on the west coast of Hudson Bay about 300 km north of Churchill, Rankin Inlet is the transportation, health services, and business centre of the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut.
Rankin Inlet’s Ikurraq Deacon’s Cupboard is a food bank and used clothing center. Profits from the clothing center help fund the food bank. The name IKURRAQ was chosen because it is an Inuktitut name for a “step up”. Deacon’s Cupboard provides families in Rankin Inlet a “step up” by giving them a little extra help when needed.
In 1994 several members of the Holy Comforter Church wanted to start a food bank. While brain storming as to how they could sustain it locally the idea to start a small second hand store developed. Since those early years we have become a community based organization – even though we are housed in the Anglican Church. We pride ourselves in working hard at helping ourselves and thus the name IKURRAQ was chosen. It is an Inuktitut name for a “step up”
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How many volunteers work at the food bank?
We have the co-ordinator who looks after organizing the volunteers for both the food bank and store. The co-ordinators have changed back and forth over the years but have mostly stayed involved one way or another. When possible we have one volunteer who looks after the food bank and several volunteers that vary from time to time and season to season. Right now we have 3 young people who come faithfully every week to help organize and hand out the food.
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How is the food program funded?
Mostly, we are funded through the sales from the second hand store, but also some of the other organizations such as the fire department, the annual flea market make donations to help subsidize the food bank. Last fall (2013) and winter (2014) was the first year that the sales from the store and donations were not enough to keep up with the rising cost of food.
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Who can receive food from the food bank?
Anyone can come and access the food bank. We open on every Wednesday from 5:30-6:30. That day was decided on because most people get paid or receive income support either Thursday or Friday. We are not trying to subsidize their incomes just give a little “step up” when their pay check does not quite make it to the next pay check.
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How many people does the food bank serve in the average week?
We can serve anywhere between 14-35 families. The average week has between 15-19 families. Most of these families have anywhere between 4-10 people in their households.
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How is food distributed to the community?
We offer groceries for at least one breakfast, a couple of lunches and one larger meal for supper. When we have more groceries we give more and when we have less groceries we give less. The bags have enough makings for two bannocks, eight cups of tea, a little sugar and juice if possible for the children.
People come and line up when the doors open. Sometimes an elder will send a young person to pick up their groceries.
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Does the food program offer country food?
We do not offer country food. There are several reasons for this. First, we do not have the facility or where all to store and handle the meat. Secondly, though we have very committed volunteers there is not enough to expand the program any further.
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How often can someone come to get food from the food bank?
Once a week – no questions asked. Generally, most people who attend the food bank are those from very low income families or have very large families with only one income earner.
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How does the food bank get food?
We have a volunteer shopper who gets groceries from our local co-op. This year because of the publicity of the Nutritious North program we have received some help through Susan Aglukark’s “Arctic Rose Project”. We also received a generous gift from one of Nunavut’s businesses. The hamlet also contributed some project money left over donated a few boxes of groceries.
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What are the items most needed?
We use a lot of flour, lard, cereal, soup, pasta, rice, tea, sugar, and canned meat.
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Is it better do donate food or money?
The wonderful thing about donating food is that there is less handling for the volunteer shopper. It is a lot of work to shop and get it brought down to the cupboard. With that being said we are grateful for any donations that provide us opportunity to stock our shelves. Some weeks we feed over 120 individuals that requires a lot of food to go through the food bank.
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Who do people contact to make a donation?
There are several ways to make a donation. One way is to make a check or money order out to the Rankin Inlet Deacons Cupboard. Another way is to send groceries either via post or cargo. A third way is to deposit money directly into the Rankin Inlet Deacons cupboard account at the Co-op.
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Can official donation receipts be issued? If yes, what info do you need from donators?
Some individuals who would like a receipt have made donations to the Holy Comforter Church with the stipulation that it be donated towards the food bank. In reality most often that money goes towards the fuel and power bill in which the church pays for.
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Rankin Inlet Deacon’s Cupboard needs donations from people like you!
Contribute to Rankin Inlet Food Bank Go Fund Me page
Deposit money directly into the Rankin Inlet Deacons Cupboard Co-op account.
Rankin Inlet Co-op
(867) 645-2801
Mail cheque or money order payable to
Rankin Inlet Deacons Cupboard
Box 880, Rankin Inlet, Nunavut
X0C 0G0
