In April 2026, the APM Centre in Cornwall was announced as the provincial winner of the Kraft Hockeyville contest. Along with the tremendous recognition and prize for the community, Kraft Heinz also provides a donation of food to a local food bank. 13 Communities Inc. chose the SSVP Good Shepherd Conference Food Bank as the recipient of this generous gift.
We were both surprised and incredibly grateful. But when we learned that approximately 21,000 pounds of food would be arriving, we quickly realized that we would need to make a plan!
We reached out to Upper Room Hospitality Ministries (URHM) to ask whether they might be able to partner with us by providing storage space. We offered to share some of the food with them in return. Following a meeting with Mike MacDonald, Executive Director of URHM, we were impressed with his generosity. URHM offered us the use of their excellent storage facility with no requirement that we donate any of the food in return.
In the first week of June, 12 pallets of food arrived in Charlottetown. The shipment included pasta sauce, Kraft Dinner, pizza kits, peanut butter and many other food products. Seeing that much food arrive was both exciting and a little overwhelming!
The sheer volume of the donation also created an unexpected opportunity: we could share the gift with other organizations serving people in need across PEI.
Food was distributed to the West River Community Fridge and South Shore Food Share, as well as to other SSVP food banks across the Island, including St. Paul’s in Summerside, Holy Redeemer and St. Dunstan’s in Charlottetown. St Pius X SSVP did not have room for storage but their Knights of Columbus Council took some products for their food hampers. The URHM is also the head office for PEI Food Banks and we have since instructed their management to offer food to the various member organizations across PEI.
What began as a wonderful gift to one food bank became a gift shared among many communities.
We are deeply thankful to 13 Communities Inc. for choosing the SSVP Good Shepherd Conference Food Bank as the recipient of this incredible donation, and to Kraft Heinz for making it possible.
We are also grateful to Upper Room Hospitality Ministries for their generous partnership and to every organization that helped us ensure this food reached Island families and individuals who need it.
This experience has been a beautiful example of the power of community and of the truth behind 13 Communities Inc.’s motto: “Spirit in Community.”
One generous gift. Many helping hands. And thousands of pounds of food making a difference for people across Prince Edward Island.
Lori Chiasson, President
Good Shepherd Conference, Cornwall PE
