Who we are:

Our Vision. All people should have access to the food they need.

Our Mission. The Mission of Wayside is to increase access to food for those in need in Southern Maine by providing a system for community based volunteers who serve prepared meals where such meals are needed, and by collaborating with other hunger agencies and community stakeholders in developing an efficient network for the collection and equitable distribution of food. Wayside shall be guided in this mission by a deep compassion for our common humanity.

Our Location. Wayside Food Rescue warehouse is located at 135 Walton Street in Portland, Maine. Our neighborhood-based meals are located in the heart of neighborhoods located throughout Portland. Wayside Food Programs office is also now located at 135 Walton Street in Unit A.

What we do:

Wayside is currently in its 25th year of increasing access to nutritious food for those in need in Southern Maine. Wayside’s hunger relief efforts include:

  • six free community meal sites (seven weekly meals Mon-Thu);
  • four mobile food pantries;
  • kids healthy snacks program;
  • family summer meals; and
  • community gardens.

Wayside Food Rescue program rescued and redistributed 1.5 million pounds of food in 2011. This rescued food is redistributed to more than 40 agencies throughout Cumberland County including food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. In addition, we distributed over 616,000 pounds of food as Cumberland County's distributing agency for Maine Dept of Agriculture's Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) in 2011.