The Midway Food & Empowerment Project began in the summer of 2020 as a resident-led initiative to meet the urgent needs of the Hamline Midway community. In the wake of the uprisings following the murder of George Floyd, many families faced a sudden lack of access to food and essential supplies. Seeing this need, then-Hamline Midway Coalition (HMC) Community Organizer Melissa Michener brought together local partners to find a way to help. The result was the Midway Project — a curbside food distribution effort at Hancock Recreation Center, where volunteers handed out food to families in need.

What started as an emergency response has since grown into a long-term, community-driven program. Today, the Midway Project continues to provide fresh produce, shelf-stable food, and essential items like personal care products and household goods to families each week. The distribution model has also evolved: instead of curbside pick-up, families now enter the Hancock Rec Center, where volunteers set up tables with food and supplies, creating a more accessible and welcoming space.

HMC board member Karen McCauley and Hamline Midway neighbor Jessica Kopp serve as the project’s co-organizers. Karen recalls that the program was originally meant to run only through the summer of 2020, but as the Family Resource Coordinator at Hamline Elementary, she knew the needs of the community persisted. “I already knew that the need existed, previous to COVID, previous to the civil unrest,” she said. “Jessica also worked with families at the school as part of our PTA, and we just decided — we’ve got the partnerships to keep this going, we’ve got the help from the Hamline Midway Coalition. Let’s keep doing it as long as we can.”

The program is entirely volunteer-run, relying on the dedication of neighbors who donate their time and energy each week. Beyond providing food, the Midway Project fosters a strong sense of community. “What we love about it is that we provide the food, but the neighbors provide the fellowship with one another,” Jessica said. “They sometimes gather ahead of time when the weather is nice just to chat. They talk in line about how they might prepare different foods. One of my favorite things to see is how neighbors are showing care for each other in that way.”

Karen and Jessica say they are always looking for new volunteers, and there are many ways to help. “Whether you are a people person and really enjoy engaging in conversation, or maybe you would prefer to do something behind the scenes, we have a job for anyone who wants to participate,” Jessica said. “There are so many ways to support, so many ways to help, and if someone wants to be involved, we will absolutely find a way to involve them.”

The Midway Food & Empowerment Project continues to thrive because of community support. Whether through volunteering or donations, every contribution helps sustain this vital resource for families in need.

To learn more about the Midway Project, visit their website.