Qikiqtani Inuit Association offers more emergency grocery vouchers to elders

Starting Nov. 10, elders can pick up vouchers worth $250 every other week for a total of six vouchers

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association is offering a second round of emergency grocery vouchers for elders during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Image courtesy of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association)

By Dustin Patar

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association says it will distribute a new round of emergency grocery vouchers to elders.

The vouchers, each worth $250, will be distributed every other week for a total of six instalments and are available to Qikiqtani Inuit elders who are at least 60 years old as of Jan. 31, 2021.

“We need to continue to protect the most vulnerable in our communities in the face of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said QIA President P.J. Akeeagok in a news release on Monday, Nov. 9.

“Our team wants to ensure that our elders have the food, basic necessities and cleaning supplies they need to live in dignity.”

The second round of distribution began on Nov. 10 and runs until Jan. 19. The QIA will distribute a total of $1.8 million in vouchers, at $1,500 per elder.

An earlier round of the program ran from April 14 to Aug. 18, in which a total of $3 million was distributed in vouchers to elders.

All Qikiqtani elders are automatically on the QIA’s list and can go into co-op stores with a piece of ID to receive their voucher.

For elders in Clyde River, the program will be delivered through Ilisaqsivik and Arctic Co-ops Limited as grocery hampers.

For urban Inuit who are originally from Qikiqtani communities and registered with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the program will be delivered as a one-time cheque of $750.

The announcement follows last week’s launch of the Qikiqtani Family Support Initiative, which offers $1,000 per family for COVID-19 relief.

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(5) Comments:

  1. Posted by Lucy Kittosuk on

    I heard the one I tried to apply was already expired, so I’m re-applying.

  2. Posted by Alice on

    Are their anyone comment me, can apply for this I was born 1971 or am I too young to try

  3. Posted by Alice on

    Is it ok if apply for these But my year born 1971 or too young.?one more ask is it true they apply for arc just my thought

    • Posted by QIA elders on

      I believe that you are too young. I think the age for elders is 55 or 56 and older, by QIA definition.

  4. Posted by Bert Rose on

    You must be 60 before January of 2021

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