P.E.I. seniors can apply for $100 gift card for food

The Prince Edward Island authorities is giving out $100 grocery present playing cards to low-income seniors 65 and older within the province, to assist with skyrocketing meals prices.

Inflation on P.E.I. is as soon as once more the best within the nation — the annual charge launched Wednesday was 11.1 per cent in Might, up from 8.9 per cent in April.

“We all know that Island seniors are sometimes on a hard and fast earnings and with the rising prices of meals and gas, could have a tougher time accessing wholesome nutritious meals at native grocery shops,” mentioned Brad Trivers, minister of social improvement, in a written launch Thursday. 

“Each little bit helps. This new help, together with different provincial authorities inflationary packages will assist to make sure individuals’s fundamental wants are met.” 

This system is open to full-time Island residents 65 and over who pay for their very own groceries and who self-identify as dwelling in low earnings, the province’s new Seniors Food Support web page says. 

Purposes open till finish of August

The playing cards will be capable of be used at any Sobeys-affiliated shops on P.E.I. together with Sobeys, Foodland, collaborating Co-ops and Lawtons Medicine.

Candidates and their spouses will need to have a present provincial well being card to use. There’s a restrict of 1 card per family, and folks can solely apply as soon as.

Seniors can register both on-line at www.princeedwardisland.ca/senior food support or by printing an utility, filling it out and bringing it to any provincial social program workplace. These places of work can even have copies accessible for seniors to fill out in particular person. Candidates can dial 211 for help finishing purposes.

Those that apply on-line will obtain their card inside three to seven enterprise days as an emailed code that may be printed off or proven on their cellphone at any Sobeys-affiliated retailer. 

Those that apply by way of arduous copy or who apply on-line however should not have an e-mail handle will get their code by common mail, which the province says will seemingly take two to 3 weeks, presumably longer relying on how many individuals apply.

Registration opens Thursday and can keep open till August 26.