Food Security and Gardening

Community Food Pantries 

Community Food Pantries are run by volunteers in the neighborhoods.
Sagamore Community Room, 28 Popham Street: Tuesdays 9:00 AM-10:00 AM 

Visit Wayside's website for up to date information on local food resources including their mobile pantries.

Summer Lunch Program 

Portland Housing Authority partners with Opportunity Alliance East End Kids Katering to provide free, balanced nutrition meals to youth in public housing during the summer months. Free meals are available to any youth 0 to 18 years old, regardless of whether or not they live in housing or receive free or reduced price lunch at school.
 
For more information and updates, see our summer programs page here.

Wayside Kids' Healthy Snacks Program

Contact Information
This program provides healthy snacks to after-school and summer programs in Greater Portland. Wayside partners with a growing number of programs to provide supplemental food to children at risk of food insecurity. Our partners in this endeavor have reported that being able to provide snacks at their centers helps students focus and participate more fully in their programs. Kids' Healthy Snacks partners include Portland and Westbrook Community Policing Centers, Portland Housing Study Centers, the Opportunity Alliance, Portland Family Shelter, Portland YMCA, Goodwill AmeriCorps Youth Programs, and Yarmouth Community Services.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension 

Contact Information
UMaine Extension service offers “Garden Days” every year. On a spring day, Master Gardeners hand out free seedlings at each of the housing neighborhoods. They are also available to answer questions and help plan backyard gardens. More information about the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Programs can be found on their website here. 

Cultivating Community  

Contact Information
Cultivating Community has a community garden in Kennedy Park. They run a weekly farmers market in Kennedy park and offer gardening support for residents. If you would like to find out more information about Cultivating Community, check out their website here.

There are two farm stands near Kennedy Park selling fresh, locally grown produce that accept EBT and WIC checks, and you will get a 50% discount for using these forms of payments! Cash, credit/debit and checks also accepted. 

The farm stands generally run from July through October.