Membertou woman donates food, spreads 'joy' to Nunavut community

People in a hamlet in Nunavut say they're thrilled to receive donations of food and baby items from a First Nations woman in Cape Breton.

Kimby Paul of Membertou started collecting items for Pangnirtung on Baffin Island, after she saw a news story about people in the North scavenging for food in dumpsters.

She has sent 10 boxes so far.

"It was very touching that she would choose to sponsor the food pantry and choose to send boxes on a regular basis," said Rose Ze Meka, the co-ordinator of the food pantry in Pangnirtung, where the goods are distributed.

"We've been posting pictures whenever we receive them, to acknowledge receiving the box and it's always a lot of excitement and a lot of joy for us whenever we go to the post office and find out there's a box waiting for us."

More boxes are on the way.

Paul is preparing a special shipment for Pangnirtung over the next few days. She's including Easter eggs and baskets, goodies that she says people there could not otherwise afford.

Paul said she has been shocked by the priceof food in the North. Essentials such as diapers and fruit can be three to four times more expensive than the same items in Cape Breton, she said.

Ze Meka said the donations are distributed through the food pantry to people who need them.

"That allows us to provide quality products to community members and products that would be expensive for them to buy," she said.