Leadership driven by Passion, not Profits
At Friedens Community Center, our board and volunteers are neighbors first — people who show up because they care, not because it’s a paycheck. Every decision is rooted in lived commitment to community, ensuring resources are stewarded with integrity and every effort reflects real passion for the people we serve.
Why We Exist
Massive Transformative Purpose (MTP)
Why we exist:
To replace isolation drift with shared responsibility by creating spaces where people feel connected, capable, and grounded in something real.
Vision
The future we want to help create:
We envision a way of life where showing up is normal, care is mutual, the land is tended, and people are known.
Mission
What we do every day to move toward that vision:
We create and tend spaces where people can eat the food we all grow, share knowledge, shape decisions, and care for what we hold in common.
What holds us together is older than any of us - but someone has to tend it.
Our Projects
Families, farmers, food, and the conversations that hold them together — our work is all about creating the connections that make rural life strong. From fresh groceries to seasonal markets, from shared spaces to shared stories, these initiatives form the everyday infrastructure our community today and tomorrow can count on.
Our Origins
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New Melle Country Market Launched
The very first step toward what would become Friedens Community Center was the launch of the New Melle Country Market in spring 2021. For the first time, local farmers, bakers, and makers had a consistent place to gather in the heart of New Melle. This seasonal farmers’ market quickly became a hub for neighbors to meet, exchange stories, and build trust through food.
What started as a handful of booths soon grew into a weekly rhythm — a place where residents could count on finding fresh produce, locally raised meats, and handmade goods. Beyond just commerce, the market represented an important shift: local economic development powered by relationships, not big-box stores.First Fall Festival
Later that same year, the first Fall Festival brought a new dimension to the market. More than a shopping event, it became a community celebration filled with local vendors, music, and family activities. The festival proved that the market could evolve into something larger — a cultural anchor for the town. It showed that people weren’t just hungry for food; they were hungry for connection. This festival planted the seeds for future seasonal gatherings and confirmed the market’s role as a gathering place for everyone.
Food Co-op Concept Developed
Building on the success of the market, leaders and volunteers began imagining a year-round model that could give residents access to local food every day, not just on weekends. In the spring of 2022, the initial concept for the New Melle Food Co-op was drafted. The vision was bold: a community-owned grocery store stocked by local producers, run with transparency, and supported by memberships.
This concept stage was full of conversations with farmers, families, and supporters. It was a time of planning, dreaming, and sketching out what a cooperative grocery could mean for New Melle.Food Co-op Opened
By spring of 2023, those dreams became reality. The New Melle Food Co-op opened its doors as a volunteer-run grocery store. Stocked by more than 50 local producers, the Co-op offered fresh produce, pasture-raised meats, dairy, baked goods, and pantry staples. In just 17 months, over $228,000 moved through the local economy thanks to the Co-op.
With 7,700+ customer orders, the Co-op became more than a store — it became a gathering space where neighbors felt seen and supported. It proved that rural communities could build their own food infrastructure with grassroots energy and commitment.Property Negotiations Began
As momentum grew, so did the need for a permanent home. In winter of 2023, FCC entered negotiations to purchase a property that could house not only the Co-op, but also space for events, classes, and shared use. This was a turning point — moving from rented and borrowed spaces into an owned facility meant FCC could anchor its work in a long-term way.
This period was full of both excitement and risk: a major step forward, but one that required serious financial commitment.Property Under Contract
By spring of 2024, the property was officially under contract. For the first time, the dream of a permanent center for New Melle had a concrete foundation. The site offered 1.3 acres and over 8,000 square feet of flexible indoor space — large enough to host markets, classes, co-working, and more.
This milestone was the beginning of FCC’s identity as a true community center, not just a series of projects. It marked a transition from grassroots experiments to established infrastructure.FCC Formed + Property Purchased
In summer 2024, Friedens Community Center was formally established as a nonprofit and purchased the property. What began as a farmers’ market just three years earlier had now become a permanent organization with a building of its own.
The purchase represented both independence and responsibility. FCC now had the opportunity to create long-term systems for community resilience — but it also had the challenge of sustaining mortgage payments and operating costs.Co-op Temporarily Closed
By fall 2024, the pressures of increased fixed costs and limited funding caught up with FCC. The New Melle Food Co-op, despite its proven success, was forced to temporarily close its doors.
This closure was a difficult but important moment. It highlighted the vulnerability of relying on volunteer energy and undercapitalized systems. Yet it also clarified the path forward: sustainability required not just passion, but consistent resources and broader financial support.New Melle Pulse Launched
Even during the Co-op’s pause, FCC’s creative energy didn’t stop. In spring 2025, the New Melle Pulse was launched — a podcast and local newscast sharing stories, interviews, and community information. The Pulse quickly gained traction, reaching over 2,600 listeners in its first month.
This project expanded FCC’s mission beyond food and space into communication and storytelling, giving the community a new voice and platform to stay connected.Market Season and Space Rentals Resumed
As the new season arrived, the New Melle Country Market returned, filling vendor booths and bringing life back to the FCC grounds. At the same time, space rentals began, with families, groups, and small businesses using the property for events, classes, and work.
This renewed activity showed that FCC could weather challenges and still provide tangible value to the community, even while the Co-op remained on pause.Soft Reopening of the Food Co-op + Café
Looking ahead, FCC plans to reopen the Co-op — now paired with a café — on September 21, 2025. The reopening will start small, with limited hours and a lean staff, but it represents a rebirth of FCC’s most impactful project.
The café will serve as a financial anchor, drawing customers in with food and drinks while reintroducing local grocery items that people rely on. This reopening is not just about food; it’s about restoring trust, rebuilding momentum, and setting FCC on a path to long-term sustainability.