HUNTER RIVER, P.E.I. — Amanda and Ian Newman are among a handful of P.E.I. restaurant owners who have found an additional revenue source if things get tough again with winter approaching and the ongoing uncertainty around COVID-19.
"We've always got that as a safety net, really," said Ian Newman, co-owner of the Route 2 Diner in Hunter River, one of 15 businesses that are part of the province's Healthy School Lunch Program.
The program, which started on Sept. 14, involves parents ordering meals they want for their children off a menu for a two-week period. A list of orders is then sent to a restaurant to fill and deliver to each school, said Newman. The restaurant is compensated by the province $5 per meal plus delivery. The province then offers the meal to parents for whatever amount they can afford up to $5.
According to a spokesperson with the province, about 48,000 meals were delivered from Sept. 14 to Sept. 30.
The province has allocated $1.5 million for the program, which is available to students at 56 schools. Some of the menu items include P.E.I. beef burger, margherita pizza, shepherd's pie, spaghetti bolognese and Mexican taco bowl. Many of the items have a vegan or vegetarian option.
Route 2 Diner provides lunch meals for Central Queens Elementary, École Saint-Augustin and Gulf Shore Consolidated schools. In the first couple of weeks, the restaurant was providing 85-90 meals per day, but lately orders have dropped off to an average of about 50 to 60 meals per day or 250 per week. Newman expects the province to change the menus in the new year to keep things fresh.
"There's obviously going to be some things where kids try it and they like some meals, they don't like other meals. But the first few weeks, they're going to try everything to see if they like it or not. And again, we may get that boost again if we get a second wave of COVID and things start getting a bit harder for people financially, the numbers might increase again," he said.
Other businesses participating in the program include the Murphy Hospitality Group, Holy Cow and Greco restaurants in Summerside and Bloomfield.
Fiveelevenwest in Summerside is also involved in the program. Located in the Credit Union Place, the restaurant supplies about 1,200 meals a week on average to students at Summerside Intermediate School, Parkdale Elementary School, Three Oaks Senior High School and Elm Street Elementary School.
"It's going great," said co-owner Duke Cormier. "I think they've made some small adjustments to some recipes to make them more kid-friendly. Yeah, we're really pleased to be part of the program."
With the impact of COVID-19, Cormier said this was an opportunity to find another revenue source, as well as participate in a program that helps students and families with affordable and healthy meals.
The Newmans came to P.E.I. from England about 10 years ago and opened the restaurant in March 2018. As the name indicates, it is located along Route 2 (Veteran’s Memorial Highway) in Hunter River.
Prior to this pilot project, the Newmans were already involved with providing a couple of local schools with healthy lunches.
"Any extra trade that comes in, obviously, is a big bonus for the restaurant. Last year, we were doing less numbers than we are now, and it made a huge difference, especially moving into the winter. So, we're expecting this year to be even better for us," Newman said.
Like many other businesses, Route 2 closed its doors when the pandemic hit and saw business drop in the summer, largely because they didn't see the cottage dwellers from the U.S., or "summer locals," as they did in the past. But Newman said business has recently levelled off to a normal amount because of support of locals in the community. Take-out orders are strong, and people are coming back to the dining room, he said.
Newman agrees that the program is an additional revenue stream and an important way to help families and children in need.
"There is no reason now why any child doesn't have at least one meal a day," he said.
Terrence McEachern is The Guardian's business reporter.
