The City of Kingston, Ontario, has announced $300,000 in new funding to support local groups working to feed residents in the community. This money is being split between local non-profit organizations and a special fund to help existing food programs grow their services this February. The move follows a decision by city leaders to address the high number of people who cannot afford enough to eat.
Officials are using a one-time payment of $200,000 from a city reserve fund to ensure this project does not raise property taxes for residents. An additional $100,000 for the program comes from the Fines For Food initiative, which uses money collected from city fines to help pay for food services. These funds will help support local food banks and community programs that have seen a record number of people asking for help.
The funding will support several different types of projects, including providing daily meals and building new storage spaces or kitchens for local groups. Money is also set aside for new ideas to improve food access and to help people start local food businesses. Groups such as The Food Sharing Project are key partners in these efforts to reach students across the region.
City leaders officially declared that food insecurity was a local emergency in early 2025. This declaration came after reports showed that one in three households in Kingston were struggling to afford healthy food. Jennifer Campbell, the commissioner of community services, is overseeing the rollout of these grants to ensure the support reaches those who need it most.
