PEIThe provincial government has announced a new initiative that gives up to $10,000 to organizations addressing food insecurity on Prince Edward Island — though some want a long-term solution.While the money is welcome, food banks say they’re looking for long-term helpRyan McKellop · CBC News · Posted: Nov 14, 2025 12:49 PM EST | Last Updated: 3 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Norma Dingwell, manager of the Southern Kings and Queens Food Bank in Montague, says the $10,000 government initiative will help the organization, but that it also won’t last very long. (Tony Davis/CBC)The provincial government has announced a new initiative that gives up to $10,000 to organizations addressing food insecurity on Prince Edward Island — though some want a long-term solution.The deadline for organizations to apply is Dec. 1, and the funding is meant to go toward the purchase of items for food banks, community fridges, food cupboards, pantries and hampers.Norma Dingwell, manager of the Southern Kings and Queens Food Bank in Montague, said the program would be very useful, especially for those with dietary restrictions.”We have a lot of clients that have special-need diets, whether it’s celiac, gluten-free, diabetics, [and] this money would come in quite handy for us to help them,” she said, adding that the funding will ease some of the burden of relying on community donations. “We wouldn’t have to, you know, just rely on hopefully people donating those items, because they are quite expensive.”The food bank sees more clients as the Christmas season approaches, said Dingwell, but food insecurity is something families deal with year-round.”Families are struggling all year long, month after month, week after week. That’s not going to change, it’s only going to get worse,” she said.”So if we can get this money, and hopefully maybe next year they’ll say, you know, here’s another… $10,000 on top of it. This would help us help so many families.”WATCH | P.E.I. food banks hope to expand offerings with provincial funding:P.E.I. food banks hope to expand offerings with provincial fundingOrganizations that run things like food banks and community fridges in P.E.I. can apply for $10,000 from the province. Some say that money could help expand food offerings for those who are on a specific diet. CBC’s Tony Davis reports.Dingwell said the price of beef alone costs the food bank quite a bit — around $3,000 every few months.”We give out one pound of beef per bag or box,” she said. “So, you know, three months and that $10,000 would be gone.”Addressing food insecurity at UPEIDingwell’s organization isn’t the only one saying the new provincial initiative could help. Erica Kyalo, vice-president external of the UPEI Student Union, says the number of students who need to use the food bank on campus rose from 2,890 to 4,600 between 2022 and 2024. (Laura Meader/CBC)Students at UPEI also are in need, said Erica Kyalo, vice-president external of the UPEI Student Union.Kyalo said the extra funding can help improve students’ lives at the university.”A big issue students are facing every day [is] whether to decide… ‘oh do I need to pay my rent for this month, or do I go and pay for my groceries and not pay my rent?'”Kyalo said the number of students who need to use the university’s food bank rose significantly over two years — from 2,890 in 2022 to almost 4,600 in 2024.Kyalo said she would like to see the program expand into long-term funding.”Looking at the funding and seeing it being used for like a three-month period, that would… go away, like, really quickly,” she said.”Making it more of… a long-term and not just a short-term period would be really nice to see in the long run.”ABOUT THE AUTHORRyan McKellop is a graduate of the Holland College journalism program and is working as an Associate Producer and Web Writer. Got a story idea? Email ryan.mckellop@cbc.caWith files from Tony Davis and Laura Meader
P.E.I. organizations fighting food insecurity can get up to $10,000 through new initiative
