For September and most of October, right up to their closing day on Oct. 22, Mark Osborn and Buzz Makarewicz, owners of Topside Inn in Boothbay Harbor, donated a lot of their time, food and gracious hospitality to raise funds for the Boothbay Region Food Pantry.

While the bed and breakfast was still as busy as ever with summer and fall visitors, the two managed to find the time to take on diners, through both reservations and walk-ins, serving them some of their much sought after savory and sweet brunch-breakfast entrees.

Starting Sept. 1, the inn opened its doors to the public to come in and enjoy a gourmet breakfast alongside its guests.

Their website states, “Breakfast at the Topside Inn is an event,” featuring Makarewicz’s sweet pastries and Osborn’s delectable savories, all made using the freshest locally sourced ingredients available, from farmers and their own gardens, and fresh seafood from local fishermen.

Guests paid $25, and every penny of that was donated to the food pantry. The breakfasts included a continental buffet with homemade breads, jams, whipped butters, granola, fruit, yogurt, cheeses, juices and locally roasted coffee and tea. In addition, a composed “dish of the day” was cooked to order.

The menu changed daily. Among the entrees were house-smoked salmon over lentil and roasted pear hash with poached eggs, sour cream pancakes with a wild blueberry compote, served with crispy bacon, and, as on the inn’s closing day, a large bowl of cheddar grits with homemade creole sauce made with lobster stock, sauteed shrimp and fresh-picked lobster, a sunny side up egg, chive oil, Spanish smoked paprika, a dollop of avocado cream and a perfect orange nasturtium from the garden.

Osborn and Makarewicz said they appreciated having so many from the community participate in their fundraiser. “We wanted to limit it to eight diners each morning, because the inn was still mostly full, with 46 guests,” Makarewicz said. “But on a few occasions we took on 12, making the total 58 people for breakfast. We couldn't say no.”

And they said thanks to the mild weather throughout most of September and into October, they could seat people outside on the porch overlooking the outer harbor.

One morning, Ports of Italy owner Sante Calandri and manager Jeff Teel brought their whole staff for breakfast. “And we want to give a shout-out to Cynthia Edwards, who came for breakfast three times,” Osborn said. “She couldn't have been sweeter. And the staff from the Botanical Gsrdens came a couple times, too.”

Though the suggested donation for the gourmet breakfast was $25, the innkeepers said a lot of people gave more.

“It was a lot of fun,” Makarewicz said. “We alternated daily between sweet and savory, with Mark cooking the savory and me doing the sweet.”

In typical form, Osborn and Makarewicz downplayed their act of humanitarianism. “We've been wanting to do something for the food pantry for a few years, but we didn't have the time,” Osborn said. “Finally this year we said ‘Why don't we help them by just doing what we do.’”

“In light of all the negativity going on in our country and even in our community we wanted to do something with a positive message,” Osborn said in an email. “They say even the smallest things make a difference. Buzz and I have been thinking of ways we can make a difference.

“Sometimes just doing what you do is the best way to reach out to people and make a positive difference.”

A check for $3,500 was presented to the food pantry. In an email, Fleet Davies of the food pantry said this about the innkeepers: “Through the unique opportunity extended to the public by Buzz and Mark, there were many satisfied diners at the Topside Inn and now many more at our local Food Pantry. From the pantry directors, many thanks to you!”

Next up for the Topside Inn owners is a dinner and tour at Boothbay Craft Brewery on Nov. 11. Eighteen guests who will be staying at the inn for the weekend, along with 12 others, will attend the event.

They're already sold out for the weekend of Nov. 17, when Gardens Aglow begins. The inn will reopen on May 8, 2018.

The inn is located at 60 McKown Street. Call 207-633-5404, or email info@topsideinn.com. Visit the Topside Inn website for more information.