Gathered Together
Free meal programs build community, create connection and address food insecurity
By Ava Kian | Photography by John Linn
Jessica Anderson’s 3-year-old daughter enjoys the monthly meal she gets at Community Table in Zimmerman, just north of their home in Elk River.
“She knows exactly where the building is,” Anderson said, “and every time we pass, she’s like, ‘Can we go to the Community Table?’ So even for her, it’s like a highlight of her month.”
Anderson, who has two kids and lives a busy life, said the monthly meals—hosted by the nonprofit Community Table—really make a difference for her family.
“It totally helps us not to have to worry about dinner one of the nights,” Anderson said.
At their core, programs like Community Table and Care N’ Share in Emily do more than fill plates—they fill hearts. By tackling food insecurity with nutritious donor- and grant-supported meals, they also create welcoming “third places” where neighbors can gather, share stories and break the grip of isolation. For seniors, families and anyone craving connection, these volunteer-powered efforts are helping to restore a sense of belonging at a time when community ties seem to be frayed.
Building community
For the past three years, Anderson and her family have made Community Table a regular part of their lives. What began as a grassroots effort to feed local residents just before the onset of the pandemic has grown into something much more—a gathering place where community ties are built and strengthened.
“It started six years ago or so with a little spark and desire to feed the community,” said Amy Erickson, Community Table founder and executive director. “I ended up inviting a bunch of like-minded people in my circle of influence that I knew that had a heart for the community, had a heart for uniting the community and seeing the health improve of the community.”
Now, Anderson said, the program is a “pretty known thing” in Elk River, Zimmerman and surrounding towns. On the fourth Sunday of each month, neighbors of all ages—seniors, families, even residents from group homes—gather for a hot meal and a sense of connection.
“There is something about eating a meal, even in the presence of other people, whether you’re really talking to them or not,” Erickson said. “Some people really make an effort and want that connection, and then there are other people who just want to be around other people.”
The Initiative Foundation has helped sustain community-meal programs like these through grants and nonprofit support. In 2024 alone, the Foundation awarded $105,000 in funding, offering grants of up to $7,000 to organizations working to address loneliness and social isolation.
Sharing & caring
Grant support has benefited programs like Care N’ Share in Emily. Founded in 2008 to feed hungry children coming to church, the program has since broadened to serve the entire community, often including residents of low-income housing in a neighboring town. In 2024, the Anderson Brothers Family Fund, a Partner Fund of the Initiative Foundation, awarded Care N’ Share a $5,000 grant to help cover costs for its weekly Wednesday dinners.
On average, about 150 meals are served each week—including comfort-food favorites like tacos or meatloaf with mashed potatoes, said volunteer coordinator Lori Nelson. Extra meals are frozen and sent to the local food shelf, ensuring that even those who can’t attend in person can enjoy a homemade dinner.
During the pandemic, Care N’ Share shifted to a delivery-only service, but has since returned to in-person dining at a local church, along with takeout and delivery options. “The grant goes for supplies. Lots of it goes to containers; it also goes towards Second Harvest to get the food,” said Nelson, who is also a former Care N’ Share board member.
Food as connection
Meal programs like these fit naturally with the Initiative Foundation’s mission to strengthen community—one of the organization’s core pillars.
“When you come together over a meal, often there’s no specific agenda other than to get to know other people who are there,” said Nicole Clements, Initiative Foundation nonprofit development program officer. “These programs serve multiple purposes. For those who are food-insecure, it provides access to a healthy meal. For others, it provides another form of nourishment, and that’s community connection.”
Minnesota artist Su Legatt has explored the community-building power of shared food through her project, Dish. It’s a series of potluck dinners hosted across the state where people are invited to bring a family or ancestral dish.
“Telling stories and sharing food transcends every demographic.” And that, Legatt said, “looks like a potluck, which is common throughout the world, but has its own sort of cultural nuance within the Midwest.”
By sharing family favorites, she found, people could connect and get to know one another in meaningful ways.
“A lot of times, right off the bat, you either immediately connected to somebody who had a similar ancestral background as you or you became fascinated by somebody who had a completely different ancestral background as you,” Legatt said. “In one way or another, a connection was made with a stranger.”
People-powered
Volunteerism is at the heart of most community meal programs. Care N’ Share has more than 100 helpers, including 30 who serve at least twice a month. They provide about 150 meals each week, primarily as takeout, though some guests stay to dine at the church. Since its launch in 2008, the group has served nearly 180,000 meals, Nelson said.
Community Table dishes out about 450 meals each month, with diners gathering at the Sherburne County Fairgrounds during the summer months and the Elk River American Legion throughout winter. To create a welcoming environment, Community Table offers live music, lawn games, and a relaxed atmosphere.
“I heard some people actually use it as a date night or a way for their family to go out,” Erickson said. “You have music, you have other people, all that, and it’s not killing their pocketbook because it’s free. We have dads and sons out there playing flag football and Frisbee. It’s just amazing.”
Parents like Anderson value the respite. “It totally helps us not to have to worry about dinner one of the nights,” she said. Her kids enjoy the food—especially mac and cheese and potatoes—but also the chance to connect. “I feel like the more often we go, the more people we get to know … and you even start to notice the people who haven’t gone before. It’s been fun.”
In a time when community connections are on the decline, Clements sees shared meals as a bridge. “Community meals do more than fill plates—they bring people together, reduce isolation and strengthen bonds,” Clements said. “They turn food into a shared experience that nourishes, builds new friendships and creates a sense of belonging.”
Volunteer-supported community meals offer much more than just food:
Improved Nutrition & Food Security
- Provides balanced, nourishing meals—often meeting dietary needs for seniors, low-income families and others with limited access to healthy food.
- Reduces hunger and food insecurity in vulnerable populations.
- Supports healthy eating habits through exposure to fresh, wholesome ingredients.
Social Connection & Reduced Isolation
- Offers a welcoming space where people can gather to renew and build friendships.
- Helps combat loneliness and social isolation, particularly among seniors and those living alone.
- Builds intergenerational connections by bringing together people of different ages and backgrounds.
Community Building & Civic Engagement
- Encourages volunteerism, giving residents a sense of purpose and pride.
- Strengthens neighborhood ties by creating regular opportunities for face-to-face interaction.
- Increases trust and cooperation across diverse community groups.
Local Economic & Resource Benefits
- Supports local farmers and food suppliers through ingredient purchasing.
- Reduces waste when surplus food is donated or repurposed.
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing
- Promotes comfort, joy and cultural exchange.
- Provides informal peer support and a sense of being “seen” and valued.
Sparking Joy, Building Belonging
The Initiative Foundation awarded $160,000 in grants to 25 organizations across Central Minnesota this summer, with a focus on sparking joy, fostering a sense of belonging and strengthening community ties. Projects ranged from neighborhood potlucks to cultural festivals, with many highlighting the power of food to create community connection.
Highlights include a new Taste of Benton County event, Saturday Night Live family nights in Cass Lake-Bena, Chisago’s Dine & Discover for older adults, and Pine City’s Silver Social for LGBTQ+ elders. Other grants support youth gatherings, camp programming, storytelling and culturally themed meals for adults with developmental disabilities.
See the full list of grants.