Julian Schauffler FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
845-645-2527
ZION COMMUNITY COMMONS FOOD PROGRAMS EXPANDING GROCERY AND MEAL OFFERINGS WITH LOCAL FOOD PURCHASE GRANT
After Second Harvest Partnership Proves Prohibitive, Alternatives Emerge and Thrive
In recognition of its work supporting community food security, the Zion Community Commons, via its nonprofit partner Prevail Mix, has been awarded $122,682 from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture through the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Program. The year-long partnership, beginning in September of 2024, provides funding to purchase fresh produce from socially disadvantaged Minnesota farmers and distribute it at no cost to underserved communities. The grant more than doubles the ZCC’s weekly budget for purchasing food, and will increase the quality and frequency of food available to neighbors in the Hamline-Midway and beyond.
When the ZCC lost its main source of recovered food earlier this year, there were fears that its long-running Thursday afternoon program would close and the community would lose a vital gathering space and source of food. The ZCC 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 for the ZCC to store or distribute.
Instead, the ZCC opted for a more sustainable and sustaining model. Since March, the ZCC has built reciprocal connections with other food distribution programs and producers, including Twin Cities Food Justice, North Country Food Alliance, and the Hamline-Midway Coalition, as well as the Open Market program running out of the ZCC space, which has collectively purchased local food for distribution for over two years.
The ZCC’s transition out of the recovered food economy dominated by Second Harvest to more local, community-centered sources has led to no shortfalls in the amount of food offered, and the quality and variety of food available has increased dramatically. The LFPA award will support the growth of programs like these and decrease dependence on exclusionary corporate charity.
The Zion Community Commons is located at 1697 Lafond Ave in Saint Paul, and offers free meals and groceries every Tuesday from 11am-8pm, every Thursday from 1-3pm and 5-8pm, and every Friday from 4-8pm. All are welcome.
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