Atlantic FCU Foundation Provides $10,000 Grant to Wayside

October 15, 2025 |

A check is proudly presented to Wayside by the Atlantic FCU Foundation. Pictured left to right is Atlantic FCU President & CEO Scott Chretien, Wayside Food Program Executive Director Mary Zwolinski, and Atlantic FCU Chief Administration Officer Rachel Newman.

The Atlantic FCU Foundation has awarded a $10,000 grant to Wayside Food Program, who uses food to reduce waste, fight hunger, and strengthen the local community. Wayside’s Food Rescue program successfully diverted 1,700,000 pounds of food from landfills in 2024.

Acting as a vital hub, Wayside collaborates with a network of food distribution partners, rescuing food from grocery stores, wholesalers, and farms. This still-edible food, often discarded due to appearance, packaging, or surplus inventory, is redirected to 60 soup kitchens, food pantries, and social service agencies in Southern Maine. By efficiently redistributing donations beyond an agency’s needs, Wayside minimizes waste and maximizes resource usage.

When meeting with Wayside, Scott Chretien, Atlantic FCU’s President & CEO, said, “Collaborating with Wayside is a perfect fit for Atlantic’s mission to help people do better. Wayside not only fights food insecurity but also works to reduce food waste. The Foundation is proud to support their hard work.”

Since 1986, Wayside Food Program has been enhancing access to nutritious food, driven by volunteers and a collaborative partner network. Their initiatives focus on fostering community health, dignity, and minimizing environmental impact, reinforcing the interconnection of social and economic well-being in Southern Maine.

Mary Zwolinski, Executive Director of Wayside Food Program, commented, “Wayside Food Programs is honored to receive this generous donation from the Atlantic FCU Foundation. The Foundation’s advisors took the time to meet with us, learn about our mission and values, and ask how they could make the greatest impact. Their investment in our operating support affirms that our work matters and demonstrates their strong commitment to ending food insecurity in Maine.”