The Parish Hall Community Kitchen is in need of volunteers.
"We're always, always in need of more volunteers," said Sheena Adams, volunteer organizer of the community kitchen, which is open Saturday and Sunday afternoons in the winter. "If we don't get more volunteers, we might have to cut down to serving lunch one day a week instead of two."
Adams said she is looking for approximately six more volunteers.
"There are a couple of volunteers who are doing more than I feel they should," said Adams. "I'm afraid that the ones who are doing a lot will get tired of it and drop it because of volunteer burnout."
There is a fully-stocked kitchen and ingredients available at the Parish Hall trailer located behind the Igloo Church available for volunteers interested in cooking for the kitchen.
"If someone wants to volunteer and make soup or sandwiches, we have everything they need," said Adams. "They're welcome to provide their own, but they're also welcome to come and get meat, or soup stock, or vegetables from our kitchen. We also have a kitchen for volunteers to use."
Samantha McKay/NNSL photo
Adams said the community kitchen is for anyone who needs a lunch. This could be because they don't have a kitchen or food, but anyone is welcome, including those travelling for medical reasons, students or those who are looking for friendship.
"Although a lot of us who volunteer do go to the Igloo Church, it's a community kitchen, it's not a church event," said Adams. "It's for everybody. Everyone is welcome to come in for lunch, and everyone is welcome to volunteer."
On average, Adams said the volunteer-run kitchen sees about 25 people per lunch.
"This year we've been a little bit busier," said Adams. "Sometimes we get 20, sometimes we get 30, sometimes as many as 40."
On each day the kitchen is open, it employs five volunteers: a dishwasher, two servers, a soup maker and a sandwich maker. Some days there is also a need for a volunteer cleaner.
One option for prospective volunteers is to put together a team of five co-workers or friends to volunteer together. Adams said there are teams of volunteer teachers and RCMP officers who occasionally take entire shifts for the community kitchen.
Adams said the community kitchen is run from Thanksgiving weekend until the May long weekend, but if a solid volunteer base were established, they would be able to serve lunch all year round.
"We try to provide the kitchen at the coldest times of the year," said Adams. "That way people can come in and warm up for a few hours."
Those interested in volunteering can contact the kitchen through the Inuvik Parish Hall Community Kitchen Facebook page, or by emailing parishhallkitchen@yahoo.ca.