Pilot project that provides community meals for P.E.I. seniors extended another year

Prince Edward Island is once again funding community meals for seniors after a successful start to its pilot project last year, the province's minister of social development and seniors says. 

First launched in 2024, the project provides grants of up to $5,000 so groups can host free community meal events for seniors. 

While still considered to be a pilot program, the reception has been positive so far, said P.E.I. Social Development and Seniors Minister Barb Ramsay. 

"The last thing that we want is for seniors to be home isolating and not getting out and… enjoying the summer months," Ramsay said, noting that the program will continue running into the fall and winter. 

"Any way we can bring seniors together and allow them to have some enjoyment is what the intention is." 

WATCH | Free community meals for P.E.I. seniors to continue with provincial funding announcement:

Free community meals for P.E.I. seniors to continue with provincial funding announcement

2 days ago

Duration 1:54

Island organizations that host community meals for seniors will continue to provide free meals with support from the provincial government. Following a successful start to the pilot project in 2024, the province says it will be providing a total of just over $160,000 in funding to 41 groups this year. CBC’s Gwyneth Egan reports.

The province will spend $161,000 to support community meals hosted by 41 organizations across the Island, she said.

The grants are intended for a dual purpose — to ease food insecurity among seniors, but also to address social isolation.

Numbers from 2021 show that at least 6,000 seniors on P.E.I. were living below the poverty line at that time, and that was before steep increases in the cost of living. 

'So important to them'

Summerside's Parkview Senior Citizens Club launched the first of this year's provincially funded community meals with an outdoor ceilidh Wednesday afternoon. 

About 100 people gathered for live music and barbequed burgers. 

"Funding is always tight to get," said Gordie Whitlock, vice-president of the club. 

"Seniors don't tend to go out and fundraise a lot of money… so when the province steps up to the plate and provides opportunities like this, we obviously want to take advantage of it." 

Whitlock said the seniors club — which includes over 200 members — has worked hard since the COVID-19 pandemic to organize social activities for seniors. 

"One of the biggest problems seniors face is isolation and a lack of things to do, so this club is very important to a lot of senior citizens and things like this are just so important to them," he said. 

"It's just important that we allow seniors to come out and socialize and have fun, and this is a good example of that."