About the Organization
We are a non-profit organization located in Charlottetown, PEI. We are a Food Bank, Soup Kitchen and Association for other Food Banks across our province; as a way to meet some of the local food needs of families and individuals.
Our Story
The Upper Room Hospitality Ministry has been a cornerstone of support in Charlottetown and across Prince Edward Island for more than 40 years. Our story began in December 1984, when the Soup Kitchen served its very first bowl of soup from the second floor of the Basilica Recreation Centre—an upstairs location that inspired the name “The Upper Room.” From our Richmond Street beginnings, we have grown into a multi‑service organization dedicated to addressing hunger, food insecurity, and community need.
In 1986, the Upper Room Food Bank opened to provide monthly food hampers to individuals and families facing hardship. Over the years, both programs have evolved to meet rising demand. The Soup Kitchen eventually moved to its current home at 101 Richmond Street, where it continues to serve hot, nutritious meals daily. The Food Bank has relocated several times to accommodate growth, most recently settling at 15 Plywood Place in 2024.
Today, the Upper Room Hospitality Ministry Inc. / PEI Food Banks (PEI Food Bank Association) operates as a not‑for‑profit organization supported by a dedicated board of directors, a committed working team, and hundreds of volunteers. We rely entirely on the generosity of donors—local farmers, businesses, churches, community groups, and individuals—who provide food, fresh produce, and financial contributions that make our work possible.
We proudly describe ourselves as a trihybrid organization:
- We operate a Soup Kitchen serving hot meals in Charlottetown.
- We operate our own Food Bank providing monthly hampers to Islanders in need.
- And we serve as PEI Food Banks, the provincial association that supports, connects, and strengthens Food Banks across Prince Edward Island.
This last role—PEI Food Banks—is one we are especially committed to highlighting. Many Islanders know us as The Upper Room, the Soup Kitchen, or the Food Bank, but we are also the organization working behind the scenes to coordinate resources, share best practices, advocate for food security, and support Food Banks from tip to tip across the Island. Strengthening this identity helps us better serve our partners and the communities they support.
Whether people know us as The Upper Room, the Soup Kitchen, the Food Bank, or PEI Food Banks, our mission remains the same: to ensure that Islanders facing food insecurity receive compassion, dignity, and the support they deserve.
Interested in becoming a member of PEI Food Banks?
URHM also known as PEI Food Banks is a long time member of Food Banks Canada. As a member, we have become accredited under FBC National Standards of Excellence. For more information on standards please visit: https://foodbankscanada.ca/operational-excellence/
We are proud to announce that effective April 2024, our organization has become accredited for the National Standards of Excellence by Food Banks Canada.
