Return to flip book view

Message 12024Impact Report

2Thank you for reading our 2024 Impact Report.We truly appreciate you taking the time to read and reflect on our 2024 Impact Report. Your connection to Wayside and our work has never been more critical, and we are grateful for the opportunity to share not just what we do, but why it matters. And right now, it really matters. Let’s be clear—when funding for food assistance, education, and community support is cut or delayed, the consequences are immediate and far-reaching. These funding interruptions don’t happen in isolation—they affect children, families, workers, and entire communities. We see it every day. Yet, despite these challeng-es, we continue to step up, stretch every dollar, and meet the growing needs of our community. But we cannot do this alone. We need policies that acknowledge the reality of hunger and economic insecurity. We need leaders who prioritize children over fiscal austerity and recognize that investing in food security means investing in our collective future—our health, education, and stability. When vital programs are at risk, we must push back. We must demand better. In her poem Perhaps the World Ends Here, Poet Laureate Joy Harjo writes, “The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live. The gifts of the earth are brought and prepared, set on the ta-ble. So it has been since creation, and it will go on.” That table is more than just a place for meals—it is the foundation of our communities. It is where families gather, where traditions are passed down, and where resilience and trust are built. Thank you for standing with us, for believing in this work, and for using your voice to advocate for our children and our seniors. Together, we can hold our leaders accountable, fight for stronger safety nets, and ensure that every kitchen table remains a place of nourishment, connection, and hope. - Mary Zwoliniski, Executive Director“Perhaps the World Ends Here” from The Woman Who Fell From the Sky by Joy Harjo, 1994.

3Earlier this year, Wayside lost not just a dedicated volunteer, but a beloved friend and family member. John Romano was a longtime board member, a constant presence in the Wayside kitchen, and a man whose kindness and humbleness left a mark on everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. Born and raised on Munjoy Hill in Portland, John spent his entire life in the same home, deeply connected to the neighborhood and the people he loved. His career in food management spanned an incredible 53 years at Maine Medical Center, where he began in 1963. More than just a job, his work was a passion—one he generously shared with others, mentoring countless kitchen employees. As a mentor, John believed in giving new employees a full kitchen experience, having them do every job, from washing dishes to ordering supplies, so they could truly understand the heart of the operation. Whether at Maine Med or Wayside, John made sure that food was more than sustenance; it was a source of comfort and connection. But John was more than his career. He was a devoted family man, a true friend, and a lover of the arts, with a deep appreciation for the theater. His humility, warmth, and quiet generosity defined him. He had a way of making everyone feel welcome, always ready with a kind word, or a story that made you smile. I will miss his humbleness, his unwavering kindness, and the twinkle in his bright, blue eyes. John will always be a part of the Wayside family; deeply missed but never forgotten. In Loving Memory ofJohn Romano

Food Rescue1.7 millionlbs of food waste kept out of landfills65food donorsshared food with90 partner agenciesWorking with Wayside we have been able to distribute over 40,000 lbs of produce to their customers. Our goal is to provide Maine raised foods throughout the year and Wayside is a key part of that strategy. The fact that Wayside has an existing network of recipients, trucks, aresponsive staff and kitchen facilities is a key part of why we see Wayside as an ongoing partner.”- Penny Jordan, President Farms for Food EquityWhen we are sharing food with each other, it is how we share happiness. It is how we share our love and show we are all family. I am not just sharing food with people from The Congo. I share with people from all over and even people from America.”Marcelo Ngimbi- Wayside Volunteer4

Community Meals Our Community Meals share good food in a welcoming setting.31,000shared meals through our Community Meals ProgramI love the people I work with at Wayside. They’re very respectful and include me as a team member. I feel very valued and wanted. That’s very imporant to me in terms of the amount of hours I put in at Wayside.”Louise Backer- Wayside VolunteerOur Community Dinner night was a tremendous success! We are so excited because it was our first one, and it went so well! The food was excellent! There was so much community engagement! Some parents had never set foot in our school till the dinner. They were able to meet their child’s teacher for the first time!”- Amy Leonard, LMSW - Catering Collective Social Worker, Rowe School66

Pop Up PicnicsEach 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. One of your delicious Thanksgiving meals found its way to my 4th floor Larabee Village apartment where it was appreciated indeed! I’m sure I write for all the residents here who enjoyed your thoughtfulness-especially those (like me) who no longer have living relatives. What better holiday gift than a colorful, oh-so-good 100% complete meal? Heartful thanks!”- Carol, age 83 ½7

Power in Partnerships8I’ve been volunteering at Wayside for something like 10-12 years. My favorite task is the thing I do every week. I make soup. I’m a soup maker. I make soup for free community meals, which is the whole point of Wayside. We‘re rescuing food and feeding people.”Sue Butler- Wayside Volunteer8

9Wayside Food Programs has always listened to the needs of our changing community. Four years ago Wayside listened to the needs of our immigrant community’s challenge to access healthy, hearty greens in our charitable food system. They not only listened, they moved to address the challenge. Today, with the support of the Elmina Sewall Foundation, the Hudson Foundation, the USDA’s Local Food Purchasing Agreement, and organizational partners including Farms for Food Equity, Maine Farm & Sea Cooperative, the Maine Immigrant Greens Collaborative has been able to access and distribute 37,483 pounds of healthy greens and core vegetables through Wayside’s network of agencies. It’s been an incredibly impactful project that would not be possible without Wayside’s leadership.” - Doug Clopp, CEO Maine Farm & Sea Cooperative9Photo by: Wilder NicholsonPhoto by: Wilder Nicholson Photo by: Wilder Nicholson

10Revenue66% Contributions & Special Events 12% Grant Awards 18% Program Revenue 4% Earned InvestmentsExpenses13% Management & General 5% Fundraising82% Program ExpensesFull financials are available upon request or at www.guidestar.org Altrusa Club of Portland, ME, Inc.Abt, SusanAditi SeferianAdler, SusanAgnes M. Lindsay TrustAkard, WillAllen, Stephen & DeborahAluwihare, SashinAmerican Online Giving FoundationAmica Companies FoundationAnonymousApplied Refrigeration ServicesArcher, MilesARIA FoundationArmstrong, ElaineArmstrong, ThereseArzigian, MelanieAsanza, Diane, Vincent & LukeAtlantic Sea FarmsAtwood, Hayden & AnneAuwarter, JaneAyers, Mark & CynthiaAyotte, Bob & LindaBacker, Louise & Nick CicirettiBagin, Douglas & NancyBailey, MichelleBarber, KennethBarcena, Luis & Damon MayrlBarr, KathleenBath Iron WorksBath Savings InstitutionBeaver, RachelBenchmark Real EstateBenezra, Jerry & LindaBennett, Christine & Bruce DalbeckBerman, Richard & TheresaBerry, ChrisBerry, GeorgeBerry, KimBertsch, GuyBimbos BakeryBingham, Constance & PeterBird, Donna & John HummellBishop, CarolineBJ’s Wholesale ClubBloom, CatherineBlouin, Peter & Kathleen CasasaBoisvert, AnnBoothby, Brenda FayeBowden, JeffBowes, RebeccaBowie, Jim & Sarah Downs

Bradley, GusBrain, Nancy & John WatsonBrand, DavidBresler, SharonBrewer, Karen & GeneBrichetto, John & RosemarieBrickyard Brands LLCBridgman, Peter & GerriBrio Dance StudioBroaddus, Samuel & Sandra JensenBroadwater, VictoriaBrobst, Richard & PriscillaBrooks, BrianBrooks, Richard & KimberlyBrown, GayeBrown, KatieBrowne Trading Co.Browne, Juliet & Jon HinckBrownfield Food Pantry (Southwest Oxford County Nutrition)Bruey, EmilyBryan, RobertBryer, LibertyBuchanan, Brenda & Diane KentyBunker, KevinBurger, Rachel & Karen SilvermanBurke, Samantha & Arthur BurkartBurnette, Mary JaneButzel, David & JessicaCadorette, JordanCaldwell, NancyCamp MicahCamp TimanousCampbell, Tom & LoriCapasso, John & BarbaraCaron, Maurice & ClaireCarroll, Dana & BradleyCarroll, Daniel & MadelineCassidy, Donna & Michael LawrensonCavanaugh, Jim & DebChakmakchi, Marina Chandler, AnitaChaney, AlishaChaney, Mary & Nancy McKissonChervenak, ReneeCiciretti, RebeccaCierpich, CeceliaCilley, Dean & SusanCipollone, TonyCity of Portland Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Clark InsuranceClopp, DouglasCoca ColaCoffman, ThomasCompton & Schaefer HouseholdCoolidge, JaneCorbett, Sara & Michael PaternitiCostcoCox, John & Debra SinclairCPort Credit UnionCrosby, Dick & MarilynCrowley, ThomasCrute, CatherineCullinan, Paul & Margaret BurbyCultivating Community11

12Culver, Stephen & HollyCumberland County FCUCumberland County Gleaning InitiativeCunningham, DarcyCurry, Peter & AnneCVSDail, KellyDakers, JaneDalton, AnneDamon, RickDarak-Druck, Diana JaniDavis, Alan & MarilynD’Bourget, Suzanne & Ian Helmsde Araujo, Roberta & Ron KreismanDerhagopian, ZarehDeschambeault, Ted & AliceDesert Wolf FarmDesjardins, Donald & JoanneDevelopers Collaborative PredevelopmentDevlin, Diane & JohnDiversified CommunicationsDo, Donald & Joanne NewcombDodd-Collins, AnnDong, JosephineDoree Taylor Charitable Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., TrusteeDuEst, CarolynDuncanson, CarolDunlop, JeffreyEbrahim, Kurt & MariaEfron FamilyEllensohn, Kristen & Lindsay SalvatoreEllery, AnnEllsworth, BarbaraErickson, Jeryl & JohnEspy, Jay & LynneEstey, Lawrence & ElizabethEunice Frye Home FoundationEvans Guidry FoundationEvans, Dennis & NancyFalender, Elaine & Gordon GayerFalmouth Lions ClubFarber, Karen & FredFarms For Food EquityFemale Samaritan AssociationFincke, Anna & Bryan WentzellFinish Strong PTFirst Congregational ChurchFirst Congregational Church of GrayFish, John & Chris BeakleyFistal, SherylFlanagan, SallyFlotten, DavidFood DrivesFord, David & KathyForeside Dental Health CareForsyth, Julie & MatthewFortin, Marc & SarahFox, Nancy & Jon EdwardsFrank, MatthewPaul Designs Project is happy to be a Wayside Pop Up Picnic sponsor. We were able to volunteer at the event and be a bigger part of our community. We also wanted to bring a bit of what we do to the event. Talking about what architects do while most of the younger picnic attendees played with Lego blocks was a fun way to share even more.”- Paul Lewandowski, Paul Designs Project

13Fredrickson, BetteFreeman, Gerald & BarbaraFriedlander, Lisa & Tom CloutierFriedman, Doug & KarenFriendship HouseGardiner, BerthaGarey, GinaGarmey, Terry & MandyGarretson- Cameron, RuthGaul, MaryGavin FamilyGeraghty, Lena & Joshua MossGiambalvo, Liane & LenGilbert, Peggy & TomGildart, MatthewGilligan, DanGinn, Gregg & Mary Ann LynchGirl Scouts of AmericaGlassberg, AndrewGoddard, NancyGoldberg, EleanorGoldman, ConstanceGoldsmith, Barry & SusanGood Shepherd Food BankGoodwin, B.T. & BarbaraGordon, Lesley & DavidGorman, Carly & AsaGorman, LouiseGraham, Emily & Karl GiffordGray, Steve & LizGreenwood, Tracy & PeterGrega, JocelynGregoire, Michelle & Bill KarlGriffin, NickiGrover, AlanaGuardian Life Insurance Company of AmericaGuillaume, Melanie & AlfredGulliver, John & JeanGustavson, Robert & CynthiaHager, Ronald & BarbaraHall, Will & BarbHamilton, DavidHandiwork: Studio & MarketHandley, Elizabeth & EricHannaford - GorhamHannaford - Maine MallHannaford - RiversideHannaford - ScarboroughHannaford Community Cash (Clynk)Hannaford FalmouthHannaford ME MallHannaford RecoveryHannaford RiversideHannaford ScarboroughHannaford Test KitchenHannaford WestbrookHannan, Philip & LaurelHansen, BenteHardman, L. AnneHarris Mathews Charitable FoundationHarris, BenjaminHarrison, JamesHartwell,John & Karen RohrbacherHaskell, NeilHatch, David & Katherine KingstonHawkes, Peter & ElizabethHedlund, Jacquelyn & Julien MurphyHeisler, AnnemarieHelen & George Ladd Charitable CorporationHemkins, Molly & StevenHemphill, Caleb & RebeccaHenry, AbigailHews, LydiaHickey, GertrudePhoto by: Wilder Nicholson

14Hilda & Gilbert Boas Family FundHirsch, Susan & Howard RebenHolmes, MeredithHoly Trinity Greek Orthodox ChurchHorizon FoundationHousewright, Ross & CrystalHoward, John & LindaHunters for the HungryHurd, KristenHutchinson/Rajpara FundHyde, JenIAFF Local 740IdexxIFCO Systems USIgel, JanetIngalls, AnneInterMed, P.A.IsafoldJaccoma, BethJackson, EllenJakab, Mary JoJakomin, BernadetteJalbert, NathanJane & Tad Shepard Family FoundationJebediah FoundationJenkins, KristineJensen, LouiseJewett, Ken & KathyJohnson, BudJohnson, KarenJohnson, Mead Johnson, PaulJohnson, William & ChristineJordan, MarkJordan’s FarmJoyce, Patrick & JanetJunkins, PaulaKain, EmilyKatz, MoraKeeler, DonnaKeppel, AllyKiernan, HeatherKilmartin, LauraKimball, Walter & JudyKing, James & Beth AnneKingsbury, Harold & BrigitteKnoll, Scott & MelissaKnowles, Daniel &GailKoch Giving FundKoch, Georgia & Sara FosterKoster FamilyLaFond, MichaelLaFond, Michelle & PeterLambert, RebeccaLarsen, Elaine & DavidLaRue, DeniseLatkin Family FoundationLavoie, Amanda & AnthonyLee, KellieLeeman, CherylLeeming, John & Pamela TrudoLefebvre, Alphee & JudithLeFebvre, PatriciaLeland, DawnLemieux, Robert & LibbyLemire, AnnLenahan, BonnieLeskanic, SharonLesniak, John & Patty

Lewis, ErikkaLiberty Mutual InsuranceLindsay, Peter & Katie MurphyLinzer, Jessica & Henry SimpsonLipson, JesseLisa J. Friedlander, Attorney at LawLitcher, Andrew & SandraLivingston, AndrewLloyd, Kenneth & MarthaLocal 188Lockwood, BruceLoewald, ElizabethLombardo, Jeremy & AmyLoranger, Nancy & FrancisLorigan, Stephanie & Renee LeBrunLoughran, ManChing & DavidLynch, Mary JoMacArthur, K.C. & SusanneMacDonald, JeffMacDonald, JuneMaharam/KnollMaine Coast Fishermen’s AssociationMaine Medical CenterMaine Metal Buildings, Inc.Maine Track ClubManoff, PaulManuel, MarkMarcoux, VanessaMargaret E. Burnham Charitable TrustMarshall, Paul & PatriciaMartin, BeverlyMartin’s Point Health Care, Inc.Mason, DeborahMawhinney, NancyMcCall, John & AndreaMcCarthy, KevinMcClanahan, Arthur & DianeMcCluskey, Peter & ChristinaMcCracken HouseholdMcDermott, ColinMcFarland, Constance & MichaelMcGaulley, SusanMcGinn, Cornelius & SuzanneMcKenney, JohnMcMonagle, EllenMerck Company FoundationMervis, CindyMesser, Anne & Daniel GordonMesser, TerriMilan, Jim & Mary JaneMiley, David & BrendaMillett, Rebecca & Kevin KobelMills, JulieMinvielle, PeterMissal, Erik & KatherineMitchell, Laurie & WillModern Woodmen of AmericaMoll, JudithMoore, Betsy & ShawnMorrison, TimMugar, Ellen Munro Edgecomb, ShawnMurray Family FoundationMurton, Pamela & JohnMuscat, Paul & SarahNadkarni, Vinay & Ellen DeutschNally, CathyNappi, MichelleNative Maine ProduceNeff, DianeNelson, Christopher & Brenda BoothbyNickerson, Del & Diane15

16Nielsen, JackieNitschke, Jon & ErinNobel, Michael & MargaretNonni, Robert & ElizabethNorway Savings BankNoteware, GaryNova SeafoodO’Donnell, PatriciaOehrtmann, Charles & DeirdreOnggiOpperman, Julianne & JohnOrr, KristinOrtolani, ConnieOsborn FamilyOsgood, AlonzoOuellette, Mark & Christian AdameOugh, SusanOur Lady Of Hope ParishOwen Haskell Land SurveyorsPackhem, Karen & DavePage, JuliannePalmer, ChristinePalmer, John & DenisePartners for World HealthPatil FamilyPaulDesignsProjectPayne, AmandaPayson, HeatherPears, RalphPeck, Paul & LisaPecoraro-DuGuay, JanicePedlikin, CynthiaPeisner, Michael & Barbara Pelsue, Stephen & StarPepsiPerez-White, MilkaPerley, DelenePerron, StephaniePerry, KarenPeters, Alicia & Tara CacciolaPiecuch, Alan & JanePierce, PatriciaPike, Randy & KitPineland FarmsPirone, Lucille &Rosalyn FlahertyPizza JointPizzo, James & Mary PolitoPooler, JeffreyPoore, DonaldPortland Distilling CompanyPortland Provident AssociationPortland Provisions LLCPortland/St. Alban CommanderyPotter, PatriciaPowell, Matt & SusanPowers, JenniferPrinn, FrancesQuaid, Don & Sherrie BergmanQuinn, WilliamRanger, RyanRaymond, Gregg & Jamien JacobsRedmond, Dan & ElinorReid, Kathryn & Hugh TozerReilly, KathleenReilly, PenelopeReiner, Annie & Jonathan Asen

17Renaissance Charitable FoundationRennie, Howard & ElizabethReppenhagen, MarliesReynolds, John DougRichards, Catherine & Bob OlneyRichards, WilliamRiehle, Marty & Janis ChildsRoak, Catherine MaliaRobinson Smith Wealth AdvisorsRodney, AndrewRoediger, Martha & JohnRogers, PaigeRohman, JamesRomano, JohnRosemont Market & BakeryRosenbaum, MarjorieRowe, SueRudalevige, Don & SueRusinek, Kenneth & KarenRussell, Bob & LindaRussell, ElizabethRussell, RuthRusso FamilyRyder, LorineSack, Kirby & Pamela MerchantSaco & Biddeford Savings InstitutionSaco Food PantrySalinger, John & ElizabethSam L. Cohen FoundationSamowitz, AnneSam’s ClubSarchi, KristiSarkozy, StephenSaunders, KristineSax, ShawneeScarborough Free Baptist ChurchSchilling, Karen & RichardSchmidt, Ronald & RosemarySchramka, JeanSchwanda, John & JanetScipione, TobinScott, KathleenSecond Abraham S. & Fannie B. Levey Foun-dationSeeley, FrancesSeretta, LauraSheehee, MelindaSherman, BeverlySherman, DavidShinn, AmyShoemaker, NancyShutterbugs 4 CharityShyevitch, LynnSilverman, KathleenSimmons, KentSincero, SandraSkinner, LindaSkoczenski, Brian & AlisonSmiling Hill FarmSmith Family Charitable Trust c/o McCandless LLCSmith, GordonSmith, Tom Solomon, RachelSomlyo, Louise LoraSoucie, TerriSouth Portland Food CupboardSouza, AndrewStagg, Pamela & Raymond

18Stanley, JudyStanton, Oliver Ray & GretchenSteady State HealthSteppacher, BrianStiker, SusanStockly, CatherineStokes, Kurt & KellyStonefield, AndrewStowell, Glen & AnnStreeter, Sabin & BeverleySuitor, LindaSullivan, Charlie & Cherie TateSuozzo, Jim & Ann EllerySurgi, KathySurgi, Rand & KathrynSweetser’s Apple BarrelSysco Northern New EnglandTargetTCWGlobalTD BankTellefsen, ShannonTempleton, CoreyTietje, SuzanneTimberwoods FarmTiwari, Sarita & JyotiTonda L. Olson TrustTorrey, ChelseaTown & Country Federal Credit UnionTown Fair Tire FoundationTrader Joe’sTree of Life Church Assembly of GodTriangle Lodge No. 1, A.F. & A.M.Trinity Episocopal ChurchTrinity Lutheran ChurchTrouvalis, C.G.Trufant, LynneTruong, Anh ThuTsai, NancyTuggey, CarylTumavicus, Ed & MeganTyson FoodsUbans, MaraUnited We Can Food Drive & Can Sculpture ContestUnitilUniversity Credit UnionUnumUPP-Unified ParkingUS Postal ServiceVacationland Distributors

Van Dyke, JessicaVandal, Kathleen & Kelly GulezianVaughn, Michael & DianeVermont Mutual Insurance CompanyVerrill FoundationVerrill, RobVineyard Church of Greater PortlandWall, SusanWalmartWalsh, Gregory & Louise ValatiWasserman, Jim & TriciaWaters FamilyWatson, Tom & JudyWaynfleteWayside TavernWebster, PriscillaWelsh, AllysonWescustogo FoundationWest, Robert & JeanWestbrook Community Food & Resource CenterWhole Foods MarketWicks, ValerieWidgeon Point Charitable FoundationWilkes, Clayton & LindaWilliam J.J. Gordon Family FoundationWilliams, TimWilliston-Immanuel United ChurchWinship, Gary & ElizabethWipfli Financial AdvisorsWitt, Amy & Hans HackettWood, Margo & Wayne BarterWoodman, RogerWright, John & CarolynWyman’sYip, AliciaYoung, Carolyn & T. RandolphYoung, CatherineYoung, MareeYouth Full MaineZimmerman, Barry & JanieZUbakeryZucker, Clayton19