- Home
- Tenant Services
- Programs & Services in our Communities
- Food Security and Gardening
Food Security and Gardening
- Mobile Food Pantries
- Food Pantries
- Gardening Programs
- Free Summer Meals for youth
- Kids' Healthy Snacks
- Farm Stands
Wayside Mobile Food Pantries
Click here for Contact InformationWayside Food Programs delivers fresh produce, meat, dairy, bread, and nonperishable items every month into four Portland Housing Authority (PHA) sites. Each household receives ingredients to make at least 12 meals per person. The groceries enable individuals and families to prepare their own meals and support families working together to improve eating habits. Each month, 575 Portland Housing Authority neighborhood residents participate. Mobile Food Pantries are collaborations between Wayside, Portland Housing Authority (PHA), and Portland Community Policing.
Riverton Park
- every third Wednesday at 2:00 PM at the Riverton Basketball Court.Sagamore Village
- every fourth Tuesday at 10:00 AM at 21 Popham Street.Harbor Terrace
- every third Friday at 1:00 PM at 284 Danforth Street.Front Street
- every second Thursday at 10:30 AM at 34 West Presumpscot Street.
Community Food Pantries
Community Food Pantries are run by volunteers in the neighborhoods.
Sagamore Community Room, 28 Popham Street: Tuesdays 10:00 AM-11:00 AM
Washington Gardens Community Room, 577 Washington Ave: Wednesday 8:30 AM-10:00 AM
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.
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 InformationThis 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.
Cultivating Community Farm Stands
Contact Information
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.
The 2017 farm stands are:
Every Monday 1-5 PM at 290 Congress Street and every Tuesday from 1-5 PM at 2 Somerset St (in front of Whole Foods).
These will both be open until October 17th.