Around $1.8 million is going to Family Resource Centres to improve food security in the short term.

Education Minister Krista Lynn Howell announced the initiative today that will see the provincial government partner with the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security.

Starting in the new year, both organizations will be putting in $300,000 yearly for the next three years to go to 16 Family Resource Centres across the province. The resource centres will then use the money to help families facing food insecurity access nutritious food with supports like grocery store gift cards.

Howell estimates that the initiative will provide 150-200 of the most vulnerable with $150 in their pocket a month.

Howell says they wanted a large spread of centres to help those who need it most.

She says they have chosen centres all across the province, while taking into account which ones have capacity and can deliver the program to marginalized communities.

Maple Leaf Centre Executive Director Sarah Stern says they look at how to get money into peoples hands to help with the economic barrier to food security.

She says they see an opportunity in this province where they can help make a significant reduction in food insecurity in the coming years.