Harvest Manitoba gets $3M grant from province amid high demand, increased food prices

The province is spending $3 million on agrant to Harvest Manitobato alleviate food insecurity,according to a Monday news release.

More Manitobansare turning to food banks for help amidrising food costs, leading to higher demand on those providers, Families Minister Rochelle Squires said in the release.

Harvest Manitoba is expected to use the grant for food purchasing, transportation and other costs in urban and rural food banks across the province, according to the release.

Vince Barletta, Harvest Manitoba president and chief executive officer, said the province's support will help his organization ensure it has the resources required to meet the "unprecedented demand" for food banks.

The $3-million grant followsthe province's September announcement of $1.75 million inspendingto create the Food Security Fund. That fund went to 29 non-profit community organizations who applied for grants to address food insecurity, according to the release.

Between the global pandemic, summer floods, thewar in Ukraineand increasing costs and record inflation, Manitobans have been through a lot, Premier Heather Stefanson said in the release.