With many struggling to pay for groceries, the province is always looking at ways to ease the pressure, according to Minister of Community Services Trevor Boudreau.

He says the province committed to $5 million for food banks over the past year.

“As a department, we’ve also recognized building that capacity within the community, so we’ve done a pilot of three collaborative food networks…one in Eskasoni, one in Preston and one in Cumberland. Those seem to be going to really well, so we will take the data from that to build on that capacity within,” Boudreau said.

Boudreau said there are large organizations and small ones working to support some of our most vulnerable and that it’s a multi-departmental approach.

He said they are grateful for contributions to food banks, education working with food in schools and some initiatives through the agriculture department, but that it’s going to take everyone working together.

Boudreau says they are in contact with service providers with how to support people with the cost of living.