For the first time, The County Foundation will concentrate awards from its $180,000 Vital Impact Fund on one critical area: making sure everyone has enough to eat.

The fund will support local organizations working to address food insecurity, with the goal of building capacity and creating more sustainable solutions across the local food system.

More than 1 in 4 households in Hastings-Prince Edward experience food insecurity, the highest level recorded since local Vital Signs tracking began in 2013. 

The Picton United Church Food Bank reports a 40 percent increase in demand from 2024 to 2025, with children accounting for one in three people receiving assistance.

“Food security is a foundation for overall well-being, stability, and opportunity,” said Dominique Jones, Executive Director of The County Foundation. “Reliable access to nutritious food helps children succeed in school, supports healthier and more stable families, and reduces the difficult choices many households face between food, housing, and other essential needs.”

Food security was selected following a review of local Vital Signs data and gaps in existing granting. Three areas emerged for consideration: food insecurity, affordability, and early childhood education and daycare.

“What kept coming up when we were discussing affordability and when we were discussing early childhood education is that a foundational pillar through all of those that really needs to be supported first and foremost was food insecurity,” Ms. Jones said.

Targeting Gaps

The $180,000 investment is not intended simply to purchase more food.

Instead, the Foundation is inviting organizations to identify projects that could strengthen the systems behind food access, from technology and equipment to infrastructure and other investments that improve efficiency and help limited resources go further.

“We know that they are the experts in this area, so we are leaving it quite flexible,” Ms. Jones said.

One potential opportunity is improving the connection between Prince Edward County’s agricultural community and the organizations providing food to residents who need it.

“We are an agricultural community. We have a lot of producers that have food left over at the end of their harvest,” notes Ms. Jones. “There’s a disconnect between getting the food that is grown here to the people that need it most.”

Farmers may not have the capacity to deliver surplus food, while volunteer-run organizations may lack the vehicles, equipment or people needed to collect and distribute it. Something as practical as access to a truck could help bridge that gap, while other investments could help organizations become more efficient and direct more of their resources toward food.

Despite Prince Edward County’s close connection to agriculture, restaurants and food tourism, Ms. Jones said the abundance of food itself is not the underlying issue.

“Food insecurity is an income issue. It’s the inability to purchase the food that we need to survive.”

Ms. Jones also stressed that food insecurity can affect anyone, and that both stigma and pride can prevent people from accessing support when they need it. Seniors, working families, and even those who may appear financially stable can find themselves struggling to afford food.

“It could be anyone at any point in their lives,” she said. “I don’t think it’s for us to judge.”

Instead, she stressed that ensuring people can access food with dignity and without judgment is an important part of responding to the problem.

The Foundation hopes the investment will give local organizations greater stability and capacity to meet growing demand, while allowing them to look beyond the immediate challenge of keeping enough food on their shelves.

“Addressing food insecurity is a complex, systemic issue that won’t be solved in a single year, so we hope to focus on supporting practical, community-driven solutions that strengthen local food systems, improve coordination and efficiency, and reduce barriers to access,” Ms. Jones said.

The Vital Impact Fund brings together The County Foundation’s Vital Signs data and granting programs to respond to critical community needs. While this year’s fund will focus on food security, the Foundation’s other granting programs will continue supporting organizations working across a range of sectors.

Applications to the 2026 Vital Impact Fund will focus on initiatives that strengthen the processes, efficiencies and infrastructure of organizations working to address food insecurity throughout Prince Edward County.

For Ms. Jones, the immediate goal is straightforward.

“Step number one is just making sure that everyone in our community has enough on their plates.”

Click for more information on the Vital Impact Fund and The County Foundation. Click for more data on food insecurity and existing food programs.