Youth meal programs in P.E.I. feeling stretched by soaring demand, rising food costs

Some programs that provide meals to youth are getting doubly stretched as record demand meets the rising cost of food on Prince Edward Island.

P.E.I.'s School Food Program — which provides healthy meals to Island students from kindergarten to Grade 12 — has been growing steadily since 2021. This year, it's on track to supply about 800,000 meals. 

"This school year has been a very busy one — we've seen a 40 per cent increase," said Katelyn MacLean, the program's executive director.

"It's gone up quite significantly." 

MacLean said the lunch operates on a pay-what-you-can model up to $5.75 per meal.

In contrast to the growing need, the amount families are paying has been going down, she said.

"We do encourage you, if you are able to pay for your meals or pay a partial amount for your meals, to do so. So that those who truly cannot pay for their meals can still access and benefit from the program," said MacLean.

The P.E.I. government, in its annual operating budget presented last week, added another $1 million for the school food program.

'Everybody's feeling the pinch'

Not only is the program making more meals to meet needs, the cost of each meal is going up as a result of rising grocery prices, MacLean said. 

MacLean said her team tries to manage costs by changing up the menu or switching out items for something that is more cost-effective. 

"We're not obviously immune to the increases in food and supplies," she said. 

"Some items tend to cost a little bit more and others can cost a little bit less. So we do try and look at the big picture."

It's a similar story at BGC Charlottetown, a non-profit formerly known as the Boys and Girls Club. Executive director Ted Lockie has been balancing rising costs with rising demand. 

Project Backpack is a national initiative that, once a week, provides some of its members with a grocery-filled backpack to bring home. According to Lockie, there are 34 local families using the program, a number that has tripled since 2021,  and the yearly costs have increased from $50,000 to $130,000. 

"Our costs are going up, families' grocery costs are going up. So those are coming together into a bit of a perfect storm for more folks needing our program and the program growing," he said. 

"I think that everybody's feeling the pinch."

'Food costs are huge'

Lockie said the organizing also started a breakfast program to ensure kids don't go to school hungry and give parents a chance to pick up work shifts that start earlier in the day. 

"It's hard to be successful if you are hungry. So no matter what, we are going to work hard to be as responsible as possible with donor dollars to get food into kids' bellies."

MacLean, meanwhile, said she doesn't see the demand slowing down any time soon. Her team is already gearing up to deliver even more meals next year. 

"It's extremely important for Island families now more than ever in this economy," said MacLean. 

"We're seeing food insecurity rates rise, especially in children, and so ensuring that students have access to something that's nutritious at school to help them learn is so important."