I've been acutely aware of the fundraising efforts going on across the Kivalliq region during the past six months, especially in Rankin Inlet.
And, while I tip my hat to Jonah Amitnaaq Secondary School in Baker Lake for not allowing its potential grads to use Bingo as a fundraiser, the fundraising in Rankin has reached the point where it would be impossible for the majority of teams, student groups, etc., to reach their goals without it.
The fact of the matter is, the good folks in Rankin Inlet go above and beyond what anyone could reasonably expect from a community of its size when it comes to fundraising.
While it's been that way for quite some time, with the emergence of our youth and various senior hockey, softball and soccer teams on the regional and national stage, it's reached the point where there is scarcely a week that goes past without tickets being sold at our retail outlets, or fundraising activities being held at the arena and/or community hall.
You have to give credit to the various youth, students, team players, and their coaches and parents who are out-and-about constantly selling raffle tickets, holding penny sales and bake sales, and volunteering their time to run Bingo games and other activities to raise the funds necessary for their team and/or organization.
That credit also goes to all the countless hours spent at home baking for the various sales and all those who donate items for the flea markets or penny sales being held.
It's a massive community-wide effort.
In fact, if I were a betting man, I'd lay a healthy wager on Rankin Inlet, per capita, being the youth-and-athletic-fundraising capital of Canada.
That's really quite something when you think about it.
Also, as much as we all bemoan the incredibly high cost of living and travel in our little neck of the tundra, our local retailers and airlines must also receive a tip of the hat for their many, many charitable contributions to the overall fundraising efforts of the community – which is quite considerable on an annual basis.
That includes their support of the many major tournaments held in Rankin Inlet from year to year.
That being said, it must also be noted in good conscience that the fundraising efforts in Rankin Inlet fill a lot of seats for said airlines, and the many major tournaments hosted by the community bring in a substantial amount of extra revenue for our hotels, restaurants and retail outlets throughout the year, most notably during hockey season.
At this point, residents of Rankin Inlet are to be highly commended for their generous support of the almost-too-many-to-count fundraisers being held in the community.
However, looking forward, one can't help but wonder how much more the community can withstand, especially with our little secret now out in the open on just how good many of our young athletes and senior sporting teams truly are.
The lure of higher competition and national exposure will lead to many wanting to answer the call of the south and, with that, comes even more fundraising efforts.
Sooner or later, the limit of what the good folks in Rankin Inlet can afford to support is going to be reached.
But, until that day arrives, it's time to empty my drawer of a pile of raffle and 50-50 tickets I threw in there and forgot about long ago, and head over to the penny sale.
And, for now, Rankin Inlet remains the fundraising capital of Canada in this scribe's books!