Wayside's Food Rescue Program is Maine's only true food rescue organization. Food Rescue is a supported program of the United Way of Greater Portland and a contracted distributor for USDA commodities through the State of Maine Department of Agriculture's Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (T.E.F.A.P.). The Food Rescue Program was started in 1999 when it was realized that more food was being donated to the Wayside Soup Kitchen meals program than was needed. Rather than disposing of the excess food, it was determined that this food could be put to better use by other food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens throughout the Greater Portland area.
Tim Morse, the Food Rescue Program Manager along with his assistant, John Riggillo, currently rescue both perishable and non-perishable food from over twenty three major donors including Barber Foods, Best Baking Group, Hannaford Brothers, Hood Milk, Jay Boyd Farms, New Hampshire Food Bank, Shaw's stores and warehouse, Sysco of Northern New England, Take 2 Dough Productions, and Whole Foods. Additional food is also supplied by dozens of other donors on a less regular basis. This food is either picked up from donors in the Wayside refrigerated box truck or delivered directly to our warehouse in Portland where it is sorted and prepared for distribution. In 2007 this rescued food totaled over 1.2 million pounds.
The rescued food is then distributed to 70+ agencies throughout Cumberland County. Frozen and dry products are made available at the warehouse in Portland while refrigerated perishable items are distributed to agencies off of the back of the truck. For agencies that are not able to attend a distribution at the warehouse arrangements are made for Wayside to deliver the needed food. Food is given out based on a percentage of people an agency helps. This ensures the most equitable means of getting the food to those in need. Why rescue food? According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2000 statistics there were 6526 families totaling 35,355 people below the poverty line in Cumberland and York Counties. According to data Wayside collects from supported agencies, over 10,000 people were in need of food assistance in 2005. Wayside did not want to see good, nutritious food wasted with so many in need. If you would like to support Wayside Food Rescue financially please visit the donations link on the left side of this page. Please note "Food Rescue" on your donation so the funds are put into the appropriate program. If you would like to support Food Rescue in a volunteer capacity please click on the volunteer link on the right side of this page and tell Wayside a little about yourself and what you are willing and able to do. Wayside Soup Kitchen |
