Gather to Grow launches as independent non-profit

By Carly Baker. Photos l Germain Mucyo

Gather to Grow’s Story

Lots to Gardens began in 1999, when  14 families living in a housing complex in Lewiston turned vacant neighborhood lots into community gardens. The organization quickly expanded its focus beyond growing food to include food-based youth leadership, cooking classes, and food access initiatives.

When Lots to Gardens became a program of St. Mary’s Nutrition Center, the expansion of resources allowed organizers to prioritize building stronger food systems and addressing the systemic issues that lead to food insecurity. This transition deepened their focus on long-term, community-based change.

In 2025, St. Mary’s Nutrition Center  became a nonprofit under the name Gather to Grow. The organization will continue to prioritize food access, feeding 500 households weekly. Asked about the new name, Sherie Blumenthal, the Director of Community Impact, said: “It was important to us that it [the name] told a story.” Thinking about the future, she said, “We are going to be reflecting more deeply on who we need to be and what our community needs from us.”

Blumenthal described the change as a way to respond to the growing needs of the community. She added: “[It’s] an opportunity to do our work better, more fully, and show up for our community in the way they need it at this moment.” 

Cooking as Cultural Preservation 

Gather to Grow keeps cultural preservation at the forefront of their work by prioritizing culturally specific foods for the communities they serve and are part of. They offer community meals, cooking classes, and lessons on food preservation.

“We’re also thinking about: what does resiliency look like?” added Blumenthal. “What does it look like to support a community here and make sure that they can access land and continue to grow food? They can come together with their community safely, practice their food traditions, and keep their culture and language thriving.”

Gather to Grow has recently partnered with a local food cooperative in order to introduce new Mainers to local foods that are similar to those from their home countries.

Mumina Isse, Community Food Outreach Coordinator, played a leading role in creating cooking videos and teaching food preservation classes. “Back home in Africa, we don’t freeze any food,” explained Isse. “[Here] we teach them how to freeze it properly, and the similarities between the greens back home and the ones here.”

Blumenthal emphasized the importance of Gather to Grow as a place of cultural exchange: “When you come here, you should expect to meet the world,” she said.

LD 1971 held over to 2026

Youth involvement

Youth leadership is a core priority for the nonprofit, which runs several youth programs, many in partnership with local organizations such as the Root Cellar, the Trinity Jubilee Center, Maine Youth Action Network, and the Tree Street Youth Center.

One of the main ways young people can get involved is through Gateway to Opportunity, a work-based learning program hosted at Gather to Grow and supported by Maine Youth Action Network. The six-week summer program employs eight young people, ages 16 to 18, for 20 hours a week. Participants gain hands-on experience working in the garden, food pantry, and kitchen. Two team leaders, ages 19 to 22, provide mentorship and leadership throughout the program.

Gather to Grow also supports food programming in Lewiston’s elementary schools, including nutrition education, cooking classes, and food-based learning activities. This includes the creation of two school gardens at Geiger Elementary and Montello Elementary.

Dan Kipp, Youth and Schools Engagement Manager, noted that youth programming is evolving along with the evolution of the organization itself: “The youth programming side of Gather to Grow is in a state of evolution right now as the organization has gone independent and is carving out its new identity.”

What’s next for Gather to Grow