About Serving Up Support

A beacon of hope and resilience for hospitality people.

Serving Up Support: Maine is a community-rooted network for hospitality workers and professionals who want a more caring, mindful, and resilient industry.

Why we began

Conversations among hospitality workers became a commitment to one another.

Serving Up Support began with a small gathering of workers and industry professionals navigating life responsibilities—some made harder by the pressures of hospitality work. They came together to talk and look for answers to challenges that can affect people in the industry, including substance-use addiction, food insecurity, postpartum depression, stress, anxiety, depression, and self-harm.

The group grew to include coworkers and friends across hospitality roles and life experiences, from young people entering the workforce to Veterans re-entering civilian life. Together, they made the support group official and built an organization focused on helping people find resources when they need them.

Our purpose

Everyone from the front line to the executive boardroom deserves support.

We aim to help create a safety net so hospitality workers who are struggling are not left to fall through the cracks and can find resources to help them thrive.

Serving Up Support is a support network, not therapy, emergency care, or a crisis-response service. We work toward a culture of care, mindfulness, and resilience where industry workers can be their best.

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Our team

People building the table together.

Serving Up Support is led by people committed to a stronger, more supportive hospitality community.

Founder

Nio DiPietrantonio

Nio has been in the restaurant industry for over twenty years, with experience across the kitchen, management, and customer service.

She created the Serving Up Support: Maine support group to help fellow industry workers find valuable mental-health resources and to help fight stigma in the hospitality industry. Nio is also an Ambassador for The Burnt Chef Project, a nonprofit group that advocates for better mental health and conditions for hospitality workers worldwide.

Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

Garrett Kennedy

Garrett serves as the Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of Serving Up Support: Maine. With a background in finance and a passion for mental-health initiatives, he oversees the organization’s financial health and sustainability.

His financial planning and leadership help guide funding opportunities and the organization’s financial operations. Garrett is also an advocate for mental-health awareness who connects with the community through outreach programs.

Vice President and Secretary

Mary Foreman

Mary serves as the Vice President and Secretary of Serving Up Support: Maine. Her background in mental-health advocacy and animal welfare informs the compassion she brings to the organization and to the challenges hospitality workers face.

Mary is especially passionate about supporting working parents in hospitality and the pressures they navigate. Her advocacy also focuses on balance and well-being for families as the organization builds a supportive community.

Our mission

Empowering hospitality workers, building resilience, and fostering a culture of care.

We work toward a supportive and inclusive community that champions mental-health awareness, connects workers with comprehensive resources, and dismantles stigma. Our long-term vision is a national network where hospitality professionals can find the tools and community they need personally and professionally.