A Note From Our Executive Director

Dear Friends, 

I first want to thank you for supporting our work with your donations. Our work is important, and we value your partnership in our efforts. 

This time of year, I’m all about the numbers. Meals served, pounds of food rescued and distributed, kids’ snacks picked up, senior boxes delivered — these numbers tell us how we’re doing and help us plan for the busy season ahead. 

That’s why I was shocked to learn that the federal government will stop tracking national food insecurity numbers this November. For decades, these reports have been the gold standard for understanding hunger and evaluating programs like SNAP. Without them, it will be harder to measure need and make informed decisions — right at a time when cuts to nutrition programs put more families at risk. 

What can we do? 

We can act locally. Reach out to your elected officials and let them know this data matters. Volunteer with Wayside or a local food pantry. Make a monetary gift if you can, so we can continue our work despite political roadblocks. And please, talk about it. Share what you learn with friends, family, and your community. 

With gratitude, 

Mary Zwolinski 
Executive Director 
Wayside Food Programs