Change in plans has the Qayuqtuvik Food Centre rushing to organize Christmas Eve Dinner

Every year about 300 people come through the front door of the Qayuqtuvik Food Centre in Iqaluit for a Christmas Eve dinner. This year it will be a little trickier to coordinate.

"In the past we would have a couple of organizations to come in with food and gifts for kids," said Wade Thorhaug, president of Qayuqtuvik Society.

This year, one of the main organizations — the YWCA Agvvik Society — can't make it.

"Because of the deficit situation we had to cut down a little bit on staff," said Heather Daley, acting president of the YWCA Agvvik board. "And of course the priority has to be taking care of the shelters, so some things have just had to come off the table."

In past years, the staff and board get involved in preparing a Christmas dinner for the community. They organize donations of clothing and toys, Daley said.

The funding shortfall comes after a year with a number of unexpected repairs. 

"Unfortunately it's meant we've had to eliminate all unnecessary expenses for the time being, as we get out of that hole," Daley said.

Neither of the YWCA's shelters, both of which are at capacity, are at risk of closing, Daley said.

But the YWCA's not participating in the Christmas Eve dinner has created some organizational challenges for the Qayuqtuvik Food Centre.

Doing 'what we can with what we've got'

"We're just having to do what we can with what we've got," Thorhaug said.

The group is still trying to arrange gifts for the children and hope there are some organizations in Iqaluit that will be able to help them. While they don't have the capacity to accept and sort gifts at the food centre, Thorhaug said they would welcome food donations.

Daley said she knows how much the dinner is appreciated by the community.

"We love doing it and I certainly hope that next year, we'll be talking about, 'Hey, were back doing it again.'"

The Christmas dinner will be served Dec. 24 at 5 p.m.