The Inuvik Food Bank will close temporarily after vandals destroyed nearly all the food on the shelves.

Volunteers say it could re-open, but first they need to raise funds to buy steel bars, cameras and other types of security.

Volunteer Angela McGuiness described the scene as “absolute destruction.”

“They have gone through here, through the 22 plots and the back room where we had out supplies and completely demolished it,” she said.

“They emptied out spaghetti boxes, all the pasta. There are smashed jars of food everywhere. They even flipped a table in the back.”

Volunteers began cleaning up Monday night. The food bank will remain closed until security is improved because volunteers said they are unable to guarantee the food will not be destroyed again.

The food bank has been broken into many times before. Last month, vandals used aluminum cans to break windows at Inuvik's library next door.

RCMP Sgt. Peter Pilgrim said the damage was severe, and the crime only hurts families in need. He is asking anyone with information to come forward.

“It’s malicious and whoever did it needs to be caught and taken before the courts for punishment,” he said.