Nunavut Arctic College food bank struggles to help students in need

Nunavut Arctic College is asking for public support to bulk up its food bank for students, so it can continue to help peoplethrough difficult times.

"When students are coming from their home communities where maybe they had a full-time job... it can be really hard to transition," said the college's acting director of student services, Anya Brooker.

"In early September and around the holidays, we usually get a lot of people using the food bank."

Brooker estimates as many as 20 students have used the food bank already this year.

Caroline Tapardjuk is one of those students.

"The first couple of months attending college is very hard for me," said Tapardjuk, who is studying early childhood education. "Dealing with bills... and feeding five people in my family."

Tapardjuk said having access to a food bank specifically for students makes it easier to care for her three young children and allows her to focus on her studies.

This is the first year the college has asked for public donations for the food bank.

People who are interested in helping are asked to drop off breakfast foods, country food, nonperishables and baking supplies at the college's front desk.