More support for food security and shelter programs for Islanders
Boys and Girls Club in the province will receive more funding to support community programming that improves food security and shelter for people in need of this help.
The provincial government is providing $100,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Summerside, in partnership with the LifeHouse Group, to help with establishing a house for a Women’s Shelter in Summerside. Also, the Boys and Girls Club in Charlottetown will receive$78,000 to support their food security program called Project Backpack that provides healthy weekly grocery packages to families.
“I am pleased that we can provide more assistance to Boys and Girls Club to support the important work they do in our province. The community support that they provide to people is essential, and these funds will allow them to continue their great work in supporting Islanders who need it most.”
- Social Development and Housing Minister Brad Trivers
In addition to the provincial funding, LifeHouse accessed federal funding through Reaching Home, a community based programmes aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada. The John Howard Society of PEI is the community entity that oversees Reaching Home projects in PEI.
"The Boys and Girls Club Charlottetown is proud to offer Project Backpack,” said Ted Lockie, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club Charlottetown. “This program helps ensure families in Charlottetown have access to food and sundries for healthy childhood development, and we are delighted to have the support of the province in delivering this food security program to islanders in need as one part of the larger plan to address poverty on PEI."
The funds allocated for food insecurity will help support Project Backpack, which provides weekly grocery packages that support families and help reduce some of the pressures and stress that food insecurity can cause.
Media contact:
Rebecca Gass
Senior Communications Officer
Social Development and Housing
rjgass@gov.pe.ca