Community Meals
Our Community Meals share good food in a welcoming setting.
Wayside partners with ten community centers to host weekly breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
Although one objective is to increase access to nutritious food, this program is distinct because it equally aims to use communal meals to improve social support networks. Beyond meeting immediate nutritional needs, this program builds long-term benefits by establishing gathering places, fostering positive relationships between neighbors, providing service opportunities, and connection with community resources.
SCHEDULE
MONDAYS
Woodfords Congregational Church
Served at 12PM
_________
Avesta Housing
409 Cumberland Avenue, Portland
Corner of Forest Ave.
Served at 12PM
TUESDAYS
Motherhouse
Breakfast served at 9AM
*For residents of Motherhouse*
_________
Avesta Housing - West End Apartments
586 Westbrook Street, South Portland
Served 5:30-6:30PM
WEDNESDAYS
100 State Street
Breakfast served at 10AM
1st and 3rd Wednesday each month
*For residents of 100 State Street*
_________
WCC *Sponsored by Trinity Lutheran Church*
Served 5-6PM
THURSDAYS
10 Congress Square Apartments
1:30PM *Take-away meal*
_________
Deering Center Community Church
Served at 5:30PM
_________
Windham Churches:
Served from 5:30-6:30PM -- Location switches between churches listed below:
**Please click here to view the schedule or contact Sharon at (207) 892-4217
St. Ann's Episcopal Church
40 Windham Center Road, Windham
Windham Hill United Church of Christ
Possibilities through partnerships
POP UP PICNICS
Each summer, Wayside partners with Cultivating Community, The Book Fairy, Locker Project, Garbage to Garden, The City of Portland, the Children's Museum, various locally owned businesses, and musicians to host four Pop up Picnics at community gardens. In 2024, we are expanding our picnic offerings by partnering with Portland Trails to develop their efforts with new Mainers to use the trails throughout the city and answer questions or concerns to raise comfort with using the trails.
CATERING COLLECTIVE
Wayside's Catering Collective supports schools and social and cultural groups whose work celebrates and strengthens our community, focusing on preserving and sharing Portland's abundance of cultural traditions. This program provides prepared meals, ingredients, and snacks to community events hosted by non-profit or civic groups who could not otherwise provide the food on their own to gather community members around and strengthen support systems for youth and their families.
“Not only did the breakfast meet a food need; it also provided a social connection that our community was lacking, due to the pandemic.”
- Amy Bisson, Resident Service Coordinator, C&C Realty Management (Motherhouse Weekly Brunch, CSFP senior boxes & Food Pantry)