Community Meals

Our Community Meals share good food in a welcoming setting.

Table of women talking

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

202 Woodford Street, Portland

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*

426 Bridge Street, Westbrook

Served 5-6PM

THURSDAYS

10 Congress Square Apartments

28 Forest Ave, Portland

1:30PM *Take-away meal*

_________

Deering Center Community Church

4 Brentwood Street, Portland

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

140 Windham Center Road, Windham 

Food being served at a picnic

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.

woman smiling

Get in touch

Emma Berry

Community Meals & CSFP Manager

eberry@waysidemaine.org

“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)