Budget discussions are underway and Prince Edward County council will be asked for financial support by four community organizations at its meeting Tuesday.
One of those will be the County Food Collective, whose members include the Picton and Storehouse Food Banks, the Salvation Army, Community Development Council of Quinte, the ROC and The Hub.
Food bank use is up 26% in the county and as many as 6,000 Prince Edward County residents experience food insecurity over a year’s time.
The group is asking council to continue its support of $20,000 a year.
PRINCE EDWARD FITNESS AND AQUATIC CENTRE
The Centre in Picton has offered swimming, fitness and other programs for the past 17 years and is working to increase its membership following forced closures recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fitness centre will ask council for the same support it’s received in the past four years, $50,000 for operations and $20,000 for capital equipment.
PRINCE EDWARD LEARNING CENTRE
A representative from the Learning Centre will ask council for a grant of $60,000.
The Centre offers financial supports to residents with low incomes such as financial education, free tax filing, and information on available benefits.
In Prince Edward County it’s estimated that 3,000 of its 10,000 households have incomes under $40,000 a year.
PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY COMMUNITY CARE FOR SENIORS ASSOCIATION
The Association’s goal is to address social isolation among seniors and it holds special events and offers services to seniors in the community.
County council has supported the Association in the past and is being asked for over $13,000 in cash and almost $14,000 in in-kind services.
Prince Edward County council meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Highline Hall in Wellington and the meeting will be live streamed.
