Millions in funding for food-related initiatives will flow to communities across the province in the coming weeks using $4 million in proceeds from the sale of U.S. alcohol products.
The new Feeding Communities Fund will provide one-time funding to support meal programs, community fridges and pantries, mutual-aid groups and affordable food box or market programs.
“Today’s announcement is about turning the sale of U.S. alcohol products into meaningful, community-level impact, putting food on kitchen tables across the province,” said Premier Tim Houston. “The grant program ensures food-security organizations of all sizes, inside and outside traditional food banks, have an opportunity to access this support.”
The fund will have $2 million available for identified organizations (listed below), and the remaining $2 million will be available to other eligible organizations.
Funding is available to non-profit societies, community organizations that are registered with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies, and federally registered charities or not-for-profit corporations.
Applications open Monday, December 29, and close Thursday, January 29. The funding must be used to purchase food for distribution or meal programs.
Quotes:
“With grocery prices expected to rise again, this investment has the potential to make a meaningful difference for hundreds of households in our community who continue to feel the strain of food inflation. For Preston Township, it represents an important opportunity to expand access to fresh, culturally relevant foods through our community shelves, meal programs and emergency food supports.”
— Rev. Debbie Simmonds, food hub co-ordinator, Preston Area Food Network
Quick Facts:
“identified organizations” are those known to the government to provide food relief programs and services
on November 27, the Province announced it would sell its remaining U.S. alcohol inventory and direct net proceeds to community food organizations
U.S. alcohol products were removed from Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. shelves on March 4 in response to U.S. tariffs
Additional Resources:
Feeding Communities Fund information and application: https://www.novascotia.ca/apply-feeding-communities-fund-grant
News release – Province to Sell Remaining U.S. Alcohol: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/11/27/province-sell-remaining-us-alcohol
Statement on U.S. Tariffs (March 4): https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/03/04/statement-us-tariffs
Identified organizations:
Provincial
Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Ally Centre of Cape Breton
CAW Louisbourg Food Bank Society
Eskasoni Health Centre (Eskasoni Collaborative Food Network)
Glace Bay Food Bank Society
New Life Van Ministries
New Waterford Food Bank
North Sydney Food Bank Society
Saint Theresa’s Food Bank
St. Vincent de Paul Society – Glace Bay Particular Council
Sydney Mines Food Bank Society
The Salvation Army – Glace Bay
The Salvation Army – Sydney
Townhouse Citizens Service League (Glace Bay Collaborative Food Network)
Inverness County
Cape Breton Southwestern Food Bank Society
Inverness Food Bank Society
Margaree Food Security Society (Margaree Area Development Association)
Port Hawkesbury Food Bank Society
Richmond County
L’Ardoise Food Bank (Holy Guardian Angels Parish)
Isle Madame Food Bank
St. Peter’s and Area Food Bank Society
Louisdale Community Service Committee (Louisdale & Area Food Bank Society)
West Bay Pastoral Charge
Victoria County
Barra Food Bank Society
Helping Hands South of Smokey Society
Island Food Network (collaborative food network)
North of Smokey Food Bank Association
Antigonish County
Antigonish Community Food Bank Society
Guysborough County
Mulgrave Food Pantry (Mulgrave and Area Wellness Hub)
Guysborough and Area Food Bank Society
St. Mary’s District Food Bank (St. Mary’s Pastoral Charge)
Pictou County
Community Support Society of River John
Pictou County East Food Bank
Pictou West Food Bank Society
The Salvation Army – Westville
Colchester County
Colchester Food Network
Neighbours Helping Neighbours – Tatamagouche
Portapique Market Co-operative Ltd.
The Salvation Army – Truro Community and Family Services
Cumberland County
Amherst Food Assistance Network Association
Maggie’s Place – A Resource Centre for Families (Cumberland Collaborative Food Network)
Oxford and Area Food Bank Association
Parrsboro and Area Food Bank
The Open Hamper Food Bank Society (also known as Pugwash and Area Food Bank)
The Salvation Army – Amherst and Springhill
Hants County
Caring and Sharing Angel Tree Food Bank Association
Hantsport and Area Community Food Bank
Shumilacke Food Bank Society
Hants North Community Food Bank
Windsor and District Food Bank
Halifax Regional Municipality
Beacon House Interfaith Society
Brunswick Street Mission
Chebucto Connections (Spryfield Collaborative Food Network)
Chebucto Family Centre
Cobequid Food Security Network
Cole Harbour Community Fridge
Cole Harbour Woodside United Church
Corporation of Christ Church
Demetreous Lane Food Bank
East Dartmouth Christian Food Bank Association
Eastern Passage-Cow Bay Food Bank (St. Peter’s Anglican Church)
Eastern Passage Food Security Society
Eastern Shore Volunteer Food Bank
Emmanuel Anglican Church
Gateway Community Church
Halifax West Ecumenical Food Bank
Helping Hands – Chaswood
Jesus House Halifax (Uniacke Square Community Food Bank)
Knox United Church (Freedom Kitchen)
Lake Echo Community Food Bank Association
Life Branch Church – Dartmouth North Christian Food Bank (St. Anthony’s Parish Hall)
Lighthouse Food Bank Society
Safe Harbour Metropolitan Community Church – Manna For Health
Marine Communities Food Bank Society
Mobile Food Market Society
Musquodoboit Valley Food Bank Association
North Dartmouth Outreach Resource Centre Society
Old School Community Gathering Place (Musquodoboit Collaborative Food Network)
Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank (Community Care Society)
Preston Area Food Network
St. Margaret’s Bay Food Bank
St. James United Church Food Bank – Dartmouth
St. Mark’s Food Bank (St Mark’s Anglican Church)
St. Paul’s Family Resources Institute Inc. (St. Paul’s United Church)
St. Vincent de Paul Society – St. Clement Conference (Halifax)
The Gerald Hardy Memorial Society – Rainbow Food Bank
The Salvation Army – Dartmouth Encounter Community Church
The Salvation Army – Halifax Community and Family Services
VETS Canada (Dartmouth site)
Victoria Road Baptist Church
Westend Community Food Bank (formerly Bayers Westwood Food Bank)
Lunenburg County
Bridgewater and Area Interchurch Food Bank
Lunenburg Interchurch Food Bank
Mahone Bay Area Food Bank Association
New Germany and Area Food Bank Society
The 664 Revitalization Network – New Germany
We Feed Lunenburg Association
Kings County
Berwick Food Bank Association
Berwick Community Pantry
Canning Area Food Bank Network
Fundy Interchurch Food Bank
The Salvation Army – Kentville
Upper Room Food Bank Association
Wolfville Area Food Bank (Wolfville Area Inter Church Council)
Annapolis County
Annapolis Area Food Bank Society
Annapolis Valley Frugal Moms (Annapolis / Digby)
Bear River East Baptist Church
Bridgetown and Area Food Bank Association
Belle’s Blessing Community Food Pantry
The Salvation Army – Bridgetown Community Church
Digby County
Clare Food Bank Society
ClareShare Fridge Communautaire
Digby and Area Food Bank
Freeport United Baptist Church (Digby Neck Food Bank)
Twelve Baskets Food Bank Association
Weymouth Area Food Bank
Queens County
Community Food Resource Network – Caledonia
Queens County Food Bank
Shelburne County
Centreville United Baptist Church Food Bank
Lockeport and Area Food Bank (Lockeport United Baptist Church)
Shelburne Loyalist Food Bank
Villagedale Community Association
Yarmouth County
Evangel Assembly
Ste. Anne du Ruisseau Social Aid
Yarmouth Collaborative Food Network (Parents’ Place & A-OK Society)
Yarmouth Food Bank Society
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