Programs & Initiatives
Located in the heart of downtown Lewiston, Gather to Grow’s programs connect our community to good food and to one another.
Located in the heart of downtown Lewiston, we are home to a network of 12 urban community gardens and growing spaces; equitable food access initiatives such as the Lewiston Farmers’ Market; school based garden and cooking programs; leadership development and training opportunities for young adults, and the largest food pantry in the region. Our programs further strategies that address immediate needs, strengthen community resilience, and foster joy and connection. Together we:
Create Equitable Access
- Ensure fresh, healthy and culturally preferred food is more easily accessible, available, and affordable through gardens, a grocery store-like food pantry, and the city-wide farmers’ market.
Support Skill Building
- Facilitate opportunities to share garden, nutrition, and cooking knowledge and experience that helps build skills to grow and prepare healthy and culturally preferred food.
Center Young People
- Provide opportunities for young people to learn and gain experience through food- and community-focused leadership and learning programs.
- Engage young people as partners in change, listen to them when making organizational and community decisions.
Celebrate & Cultivate Food Culture
- Facilitate experiences that celebrate and educate about our communities diverse food cultures.
- Cultivate a food culture that includes eating a diversity of cuisine, fresh fruits and vegetables, and other healthy foods.
Foster Connection to People & Places
- Foster connections across differences through working side-by-side, breaking bread together, and sharing in our collective humanity.
- Facilitate experiences that deepen connection to neighborhood, community, and the land.
Making an impact.
“I have learned that I can do anything, to be honest, because I have tried so many new things. I can also garden by myself!”
– Youth Program Participant
Community Impact
Each season, our programs reach hundreds of neighbors across Lewiston-Auburn—connecting people to good food, learning, and one another.
Households served weekly through our grocery-style food pantry
Student learning opportunities through garden and cooking education
Households grow their own food through our urban community gardens
Families access fresh produce via the Lewiston Farmers’ Market and Maine Harvest Bucks
School-based programs delivered in partnership with FoodCorps
Gardens and orchards where community members and schools are growing food together
Find Our Programs
Food Pantry
Everyone is welcome at our grocery style pantry. Open Tuesdays 1pm-6pm and Fridays 9am-12pm.
Community Gardens
Grow your own food and connect with neighbors at one of our ten urban community gardens in Lewiston or Auburn.
Youth Engagement
Learn about cooking, gardening, and team building, all while connecting to our local food system and community.
School Partnerships
Leadership and direct support that nurtures gardens, cooking clubs, and hands-on learning in our local elementary schools.
Orchards & Green Spaces
Educational gardens and an orchard where young and old can learn together and enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Community Meals
A time once a month to break bread together and celebrate cultural foods prepared by community members.