A long-running hot lunch program for Regina school children says it has run into a cash crunch.

Chili for Children typically feeds hot lunches to about 1,300 students in the city's north-central area every week.

With the school year starting this week, the lunch activity was supposed to kick into high gear.

However, the meals were on hold Thursday, because money that's expected from the province hasn't come through yet, an official with the program said.

Chili for Children program director Susan McArthur says the program received $17,820 in June to get it through the summer, but the bulk of its $106,000 provincial grant hasn't arrived.

She said she hasn't been able to buy food or bring back staff and is wondering if the money will ever come through.

In response, Education Minister Donna Harpauer said it may all be just a misunderstanding.

She said she had just heard about the problem on Wednesday and would be contacting Chili for Children right away to get to the bottom of things.

The Opposition New Democrats held a press conference Thursday to accuse the government of withholding the money. Harpauer, meanwhile, accused the NDP of "fear-mongering".

A spokesperson for Harpauer later told CBC News that Chili for Children told the government the program still has some of its June interim money left.

The government also says the outstanding money will flow to the program before Sept. 15, which is what Chili for Children wanted.

McArthur said the main impact is that many children may not get lunch this week and that will have impact on their schooling.

Even if remaining money comes through right away, it will take at least a week to get up and running, she said.