St. Herman’s Table Faces Legal Challenge Over Food Distribution Ordinance
Every Thursday, St. Herman’s Table, an Orthodox Christian service group, offers food and shares the gospel with homeless individuals in a Phoenix park. Volunteers distribute water, hygiene products, and Bibles as part of their charitable initiative.
However, this weekly outreach has hit a snag—it’s facing a lawsuit. Following approval by the Phoenix City Council, a new ordinance regarding food and medical distribution in the park restricts St. Herman’s from continuing their activities.
“Phoenix presents no evidence or meaningful arguments explaining why a birthday party that gives cake to 20 selected 2-year-olds is less likely to burden park resources with noise and disruption than a religiously driven gathering of 20 attendees,” stated the ruling.
St. Herman’s Table, along with its founder Lance Brace, argues that the ordinance, enacted in early June, infringes on the First Amendment rights and the Arizona Free Exercise of Religion Act by criminalizing their weekly charitable efforts—a practice that holds significance in Orthodox Christianity.
According to the city’s website, the ordinance is described as establishing a framework for offers like medical and food distribution in parks, which lacked previous regulations. Now, organizations like St. Herman’s must apply for permits to distribute food.
Critics highlight that the ordinance seems to function as a ban by limiting permits to just two per month for each park. Additionally, these designated areas often lack shade or other amenities, restricting opportunities for those in need.
In an interview with Blaze News, Brace recounted how he and his family felt compelled to start St. Herman’s Table after joining the Orthodox Church. There was an “overwhelming feeling” to serve the homeless community.
The Holy Cross Exaltation Orthodox Church already had an established program in which members filled bags with food, clothing, and essentials to be distributed to homeless individuals encountered during drives around the city.
Brace got active in the church’s charitable outreach, frequently visiting parks to deliver care packages. “We found ourselves back at Cave Creek Park in Cactus consistently, connecting with individuals in need, and realized this was our calling,” Brace noted.
Father Thomas Frisbie of the church described St. Herman’s Table as a “grassroots” effort led by Brace and his family. “They’re conscientious, wonderful people. They recognized the need and wanted to help,” Frisbie explained.
Starting in October 2025, Brace and his family prepared homemade meals and hosted buffets at Cave Creek Park every Thursday night. As church members discovered Brace’s weekly gatherings, many began to volunteer and aid in the efforts.
“By late December, we had around five parishioners joining us every week. At that point, it transformed into a structured event,” Brace said.
While St. Herman’s Table gained momentum, the Phoenix City Council approved the Safe Health in Parks Ordinance aimed at ensuring safety in parks, especially amid concerns about drug use and health issues related to discarded items.
The effective date of the ordinance was delayed a couple of times to facilitate stakeholder feedback. In March 2026, an updated Medical and Food Distribution Ordinance was introduced, further restricting food distribution in parks, taking effect on June 7.
Interestingly, this ordinance doesn’t pertain to private gatherings, family support, or water distribution activities.
Violators could face serious repercussions, including a Class 1 misdemeanor, incurring possible jail time of up to 180 days and fines reaching $2,500.
In response to this lawsuit, a representative from Phoenix indicated that the city aims to uphold the ordinance, believing it to be lawful.
Shortly after St. Herman’s Table filed its complaint, the judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing the city from enforcing the ordinance against Brace and the organization for 14 days.
The ruling reflected concerns about the inconsistency in the city’s interpretation of events held in parks, noting that the ordinance does not distinguish based on religious intent.
Phoenix officials reiterated that the ordinance was adopted to ensure that everyone could enjoy neighborhood parks and effectively manages the competition between food distribution events and general park activities.
Brace challenges the notion that St. Herman’s efforts could compromise park cleanliness and safety. “Everything we do is a labor of love. We take great care in how we approach city officials,” he stated, emphasizing a strong commitment to community.
He also pointed out that volunteers proactively clean up before and after events, asserting that they were never directed by the city to relocate their gatherings.
When asked why the city combined park restrictions for medical services and food distribution instead of separating them, the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department directed responses back to Blaze News.
