More than 4 million pounds of food that might have ended up in landfills instead helped feed families in Maine last year, thanks to the work of Wayside Food Programs. The organization continues to expand its impact in communities like Windham through food rescue and outreach programs.
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| Wayside Food Programs has partnered with local churches St. Ann's Episcopal Church and Windham Hill United Church of Christ to host rotating free community dinners. These meals are open for everyone because they are about building connection and anybody who can benefit from a free meal is always welcome. COURTESY PHOTO |
Meadow Thompson is the community programs manager at Wayside Food Programs.
“Our mission is to use food to reduce waste, fight hunger, and strengthen community,” she says. “With grocery prices being so high, it feels wonderful to be able to provide a free meal. Our meals are truly open for everyone because they are about building connection and anybody who can benefit from a free meal is always welcome.”
Wayside partners directly with local churches – including St. Ann’s Episcopal Church and Windham Hill United Church of Christ – to host rotating, free community dinners. These meals do more than provide food; they build essential social support networks and help neighbors connect.
“Windham churches coming together to be able to offer a high-quality free meal in the Windham community is truly a showing of collaboration amongst organizations,” says Thompson. “All of our meals are in Portland except for this one, which will be in Windham.”
This means that Wayside will do the menu planning, provide all the food, and cook all the food. The meals will be provided on Thursdays at 5pm at two Windham churches, St. Ann's Episcopal Church or Windham Hill United Church of Christ, as each church takes turns. The site itself, who will be hosting and serving the meal, takes agency over connecting with individuals to make sure that it is a safe environment to come and enjoy a fresh and free meal.
“Wayside is a very unique partner to organizations because as a non-profit, our mission is to be able to assist with food insecurities but also to truly create community and connect with individuals; which is so important,” says Thompson. “We are only an eight-person team at Wayside who are able to make such a big impact thanks to all of the volunteers and meal sites that allow us to have such a grander reach.”
Wayside is always looking for more volunteers for meals sites to help serve meals, kitchen help, in the warehouse and food rescue pick-ups.
“We have a wide range of things that volunteers can assist us with, and we are always looking for assistance,” says Thompson. “Volunteers are undeniably our backbone of our organization, and they are who allow us to do all of the amazing things that we do.”
Wayside also has free picnics, with four free picnics happening later this year.
“These picnics are about creating a free event where our community can come together and enjoy themselves,” says Thompson. “It is also our way of saying thank you to the community.”
There are many programs that Wayside offers, with free meals being just one segment.
For those who are interested in the different programs and resources, please visit the Wayside Food Programs website at waysidemaine.org
“On our website, we have links to food pantries in your area, when they distribute, and how to contact them,” says Thompson.
The website also has a free meal schedule, and Wayside does not limit the public to only one free meal a week but instead welcomes the public to try out different sites as each site is different in its own way.
“We are very thankful to have the opportunity to provide fresh and healthy food to the Windham community through the community meal,” says Thompson. “Each meal we prepare fresh and balanced for anyone who is interested. We are proud to be able to reduce food waste and bring not just free food to the community, but food that we cooked from our hearts.” <
“Windham churches coming together to be able to offer a high-quality free meal in the Windham community is truly a showing of collaboration amongst organizations,” says Thompson. “All of our meals are in Portland except for this one, which will be in Windham.”
“Wayside is a very unique partner to organizations because as a non-profit, our mission is to be able to assist with food insecurities but also to truly create community and connect with individuals; which is so important,” says Thompson. “We are only an eight-person team at Wayside who are able to make such a big impact thanks to all of the volunteers and meal sites that allow us to have such a grander reach.”
Wayside is always looking for more volunteers for meals sites to help serve meals, kitchen help, in the warehouse and food rescue pick-ups.
“We have a wide range of things that volunteers can assist us with, and we are always looking for assistance,” says Thompson. “Volunteers are undeniably our backbone of our organization, and they are who allow us to do all of the amazing things that we do.”
Wayside also has free picnics, with four free picnics happening later this year.
“These picnics are about creating a free event where our community can come together and enjoy themselves,” says Thompson. “It is also our way of saying thank you to the community.”
There are many programs that Wayside offers, with free meals being just one segment.
For those who are interested in the different programs and resources, please visit the Wayside Food Programs website at waysidemaine.org
“On our website, we have links to food pantries in your area, when they distribute, and how to contact them,” says Thompson.
The website also has a free meal schedule, and Wayside does not limit the public to only one free meal a week but instead welcomes the public to try out different sites as each site is different in its own way.
“We are very thankful to have the opportunity to provide fresh and healthy food to the Windham community through the community meal,” says Thompson. “Each meal we prepare fresh and balanced for anyone who is interested. We are proud to be able to reduce food waste and bring not just free food to the community, but food that we cooked from our hearts.” <
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