Food programs at Zion Community Commons provide high-quality food to neighbors, support local farmers through community purchasing

In the first week of SNAP cuts, community-funded food distribution programs at Zion Community Commons (ZCC) continue to provide the resources of food and fellowship to neighbors in the Hamline-Midway and beyond. As of Nov. 1, 2025, 450,000 Minnesotans have lost SNAP benefits. From 2019-2024 food shelf visits in Minnesota increased by more than 250%, illustrating sustained, state-wide food insecurity and instability. Food banks and food shelves have struggled to meet these increases in need, relying on low-quality recovered or government-subsidized food to feed clients. Instead of working with large food banks like Second Harvest Heartland, the food justice programs at Zion Community Commons use money raised from the community, ranging from pocket change to large donations from individuals, to purchase high-quality food from local producers via Co-op Partners Warehouse and offer it to 200-300 households in the Twin Cities. 
When the Thursday afternoon Food and Wellness program at ZCC lost its main source of recovered food in March of 2024, there were fears that the 15-year running program would close and the community would lose a vital gathering space and source of food, according to Julian Schauffler. The program explored purchasing recovered food from Second Harvest Heartland, but found that they did not have the money or volunteer hours to make even minimum orders – and the food that Second Harvest was selling was short on fresh foods, long on low-quality processed foods, and only available in quantities too large to distribute with an all-volunteer staff or store at ZCC. 
"The transition out of the recovered food economy dominated by Second Harvest to more local, community-centered sources has led to a dramatic increase in the quality and variety of food available, without shortfalls in the amount of food offered," said Julian Schauffler. This model also has sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to local farmers in Minnesota and Wisconsin, many of whom depend on SNAP dollars spent at farmer’s markets. Speaking to the crowd gathered on Thursday, Oct. 30, two days before SNAP cuts went into effect, Pastor John Marboe, of the Lutheran congregation that meets at ZCC, said, “Here we are gathering to be community. To care for one another. To co-create a food resource that does not depend on unreliable government assistance, nor large charity model. Rather, we gather in solidarity, in mutual assistance… Because everyone deserves this.” 
Zion Community Commons is located at 1697 Lafond Ave in Saint Paul, and offers meals and groceries every Tuesday from 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. and every Thursday from 1-3 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. All are welcome. To learn more or make a financial contribution, visit zlcmidway.org or openmarketmn.org.

About Food and Fellowship at Zion Community Commons

Zion Community Commons, “A Public Space for the Common Good,” is a neighborhood organization providing space for community and local gatherings with a model of reciprocity and relationship. The Food and Wellness ministry of Zion Lutheran Church provides a meal and groceries every Thursday from 1-3 p.m., and has done so for the past 15 years. Since 2022, Open Market has also hosted regular events at Zion Community Commons, providing a vegan meal and groceries Tuesdays 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Thursdays 5-8 p.m. Through collective wholesale purchasing and reciprocal relationships with local food producers, both programs offer dignified, fresh food while strengthening local food systems. To learn more, visit zlcmidway.org, openmarketmn.org or follow @thezccsaintpaul on Instagram.