Nunavut Arctic College thanks all for donations to Feb. 26 fire victims

Volunteers help sort clothing Feb. 28 at Nunavut Arctic College’s Ukkivik residence for victims of the Feb. 26 fire in Iqaluit. (PHOTO BY DEAN MORRISON)

“Overwhelming support” from donors has helped Nunavut Arctic College meet the needs of its students who lost their homes and possessions Feb. 26 in the fire that ravaged a block of Iqaluit’s Creekside Village, the college said in a Feb. 28 news release.

Arctic College officials continue to work hard to ensure their 83 students and family members get back to a regular routine as quickly as possible.

Most college students affected by the fire now have assigned housing, it said, although a couple of students are now staying with family and at local hotels.

They should also have new housing units assigned by Feb 29.

The next step: getting back to classes.

“Getting back to class will bring back normalcy to the lives of our students,” said Arctic College President Michael Shouldice. “We’re working really hard with our partners to get our students settled in new housing as soon as available.”

Donations of cash and store gift cards are best, if possible, as “shopping and setting-up a new home assists in the healing process,” the release said,

“It also ensures that the specific needs of a family are met.”

To make a donation, you can call the Canadian Red Cross donation line at 1-800- 418-1111 and say, “I’m donating to the Current Iqaluit Response.”

The Red Cross, whose representatives met Feb. 28 with students, is providing new pillows, sheet sets and personal hygiene kits to all fire victims, along with money for clothing and food.

To donate items, bring them to the college’s Ukkivik student residence.

The current needs now include laundry soap, cleaning cloths and supplies, blankets, dishes, pans, coffee pots, eating utensils, and non-perishable food items.

Electronics, footwear and clothing are no longer needed, the college said.

The Iqaluit Post Office continues to accept donations of non-perishable food items, which will be delivered to Ukkivik residence.

“We truly can’t thank the community enough for their out-pouring of support,” said Shouldice. “You have made a difficult situation bearable for our students.”

Iqaluit Centre MLA Hunter Tootoo also told Nunatsiaq News how thankful he was to see everyone in the community, the Red Cross and many other donors pull together to help the victims of the fire at Creekside Village, which lies in his riding.