Several local organizations in Amherst are receiving new provincial funding to help residents facing food insecurity. The provincial government recently announced the distribution of $5.3 million through the Feeding Communities Fund to 315 non-profits and charities across Nova Scotia.
The money for these one-time grants comes from the sale of U.S. alcohol products that were removed from shelves at the Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. in March 2025. This move followed the introduction of trade tariffs by the United States.
In Amherst, several organizations were selected to receive support, including the Amherst Food Assistance Network Association, Maggie’s Place – A Resource Centre for Families, which operates the Cumberland Collaborative Food Network, and The Salvation Army – Amherst and Springhill. Additionally, Souls Harbour Rescue Mission, which operates several locations across the province, received funding as part of the initiative.
The funding comes as the province works to address record levels of food insecurity. Nova Scotia currently has the highest rate of food insecurity in Canada at 28.9 percent. Data from Feed Nova Scotia shows that in the final three months of 2025, more than 37,000 unique individuals across the province relied on food banks, a figure representing over three percent of the total population. Use of these services has climbed 68 percent since 2021, with most people reporting that the rising cost of living is the primary reason for their visit.
The grants range from $1,000 to $350,000 and are designed to support a variety of food relief programs in urban, rural, and Mi’kmaw communities across the province.
