How does community fridge work?

Community fridges are refrigerators placed in public spaces where anyone can donate or take food for free. They operate on a “take what you need, leave what you can” basis to help reduce food waste and food insecurity. Community fridges are typically run by grassroots organizations or volunteers and rely on donations and volunteers to keep running. Here’s a deeper look at how community fridges work:

What is a community fridge?

A community fridge is a refrigerator that is placed in a public, outdoor location where food is made available free of charge to anyone who may need it. Some key things to know about community fridges:

They are placed outside in locations like parks, sidewalks, parking lots, etc. so they are easily accessible to the community.

They operate on a donation basis – anyone can add food to the fridge and anyone in need can take food.
Food is completely free and there are no requirements or restrictions on who can donate or take items.
They are often stocked with fresh produce, dairy, eggs, packaged foods, leftovers from restaurants, and more.

Most operate 24/7 and rely on volunteers to maintain and restock the fridges.
They aim to reduce food waste and hunger by making free food readily available.

Who runs community fridges?

Community fridges are often grassroots efforts run by volunteers, non-profit organizations, or mutual aid groups. Some examples include:

Local volunteers – Neighbors may come together to set up and maintain a community fridge in their area.
Non-profit organizations – Established non-profits that address food access may set up community fridges as part of their outreach.
Mutual aid groups – These informal networks organize community fridges as part of their broader efforts to provide community-based mutual aid.

Social justice groups – Some racial justice and social justice groups run community fridges to increase food equity.
Faith-based organizations – Churches, mosques, temples, etc. may maintain community fridges as part of their mission.

Often it is collaborative effort between many of the above. There may also be partnerships with local businesses, farms, grocery stores, and restaurants that donate to keep the fridges stocked.

Where are community fridges located?

Community fridges can be found in a variety of public, outdoor locations such as:

Parks
Sidewalks

Parking lots
Plazas
Near libraries or community centers

Churches or places of worship
Bus stops

They are placed in areas where there is a lot of foot traffic from community members who may benefit from free food access. Locations may be focused in lower-income neighborhoods with less access to fresh, healthy foods.

How are community fridges stocked?

Community fridges rely on food donations from various sources to stay stocked:

Community food donations – Anyone can drop off food that they purchased or homegrown.
Restaurants/cafes – Local eateries will donate leftovers or excess food.

Grocery stores – Stores donate produce, dairy, eggs, and other items nearing sell-by dates.
Farms – Nearby farms donate fresh fruits, vegetables, and other produce.
Food banks/pantries – Organizations focused on food distribution may donate items.

Faith-based groups – Churches, mosques, and temples may collect and donate food from their members and food ministries.

Some community fridges also accept monetary donations to purchase food items as needed.

What types of food can you find?

Community fridges aim to provide healthy, fresh foods to the community. Some examples of items you may find stocked:

Fresh produce – Fruits, vegetables, greens, etc.
Dairy – Milk, cheese, yogurt, butter.
Eggs

Bread and grains
Frozen foods
Canned/dry goods – Beans, soups, pasta, rice, etc.

Prepared meals and leftovers
Beverages – Water, juice, tea, coffee
Snacks – Granola bars, nuts, crackers, etc.

Baby food and formula
Pet food
Personal care items – Soap, toothpaste, feminine products

The selection can vary day-to-day based on donations. Those stocking try to provide versatile ingredients for meals along with some ready-to-eat items.

Who can take food?

The food in community fridges is available free of charge to anyone who may benefit from or want it. There are no restrictions on who can access food. Some common groups who use community fridges include:

Low-income families

College students and young adults
Individuals experiencing homelessness
Senior citizens and the elderly

People with disabilities
Undocumented immigrants
People without reliable transportation

Anyone experiencing food insecurity

The purpose is to provide a no-barrier, judgement-free space where anyone can pick up the food they need.

How does taking food work?

Taking food from a community fridge is easy!

Find a community fridge near you via signs, flyers, social media, or word of mouth.
Go up to the fridge and open it to view available items.
Take whatever food you need or want.

Close the fridge when done.

There are no forms to sign, questions to answer, or proofs of need required. Anyone can take food with no restrictions on type or quantity.

How does donating work?

Donating to a community fridge is also very easy:

Find an active community fridge that is accepting donations.
Look at signs on the fridge or contact the organizers to learn what items are needed.
Purchase or prepare food to donate. Focus on nutritious, fresh items.

Transport donations safely in coolers/insulated bags.
Drop off food at the fridge during designated donation hours.
Stock the fridge neatly and ensure all items have clear expiration dates.

Let the fridge organizers know what you’ve donated.

When donating, be sure your items are fresh and unexpired. Follow all food safety guidelines. If allowed, ready-made meals are appreciated since they just require reheating.

How are community fridges maintained?

It takes consistent work to keep a community fridge running properly. Some maintenance tasks include:

Monitoring temperatures – Regularly check fridge temps and adjust as needed.
Cleaning – Wipe down interior surfaces, shelves, doors to prevent buildup.
Removing expired/spoiled food – Check dates and toss anything expired or spoiled.

Organizing layout – Keep things neatly organized and labeled for ease of finding items.
Restocking – Coordinate food donations and restock as inventory gets low.
Repairs – Address any mechanical or electrical issues promptly.

Graffiti removal – Clean off any graffiti on exterior surfaces when needed.

Volunteers rotate responsibilities like monitoring, cleaning, organizing and restocking. Donations help cover costs of repairs, locks, signs and other operational needs.

What are the benefits?

Some of the many benefits that community fridges provide include:

Increasing food access – They make free, healthy foods available to community members who may lack resources.
Reducing food waste – They provide an outlet for excess food from stores, farms, restaurants that would otherwise be tossed.
Nutrition and health – They provide fresh produce and other nutritious items people may not otherwise get.

Convenience – No forms or restrictions make taking food very convenient for those in need.
Community building – They bring people together around a common cause and build community bonds.
Sustainability – They support local food systems and environmental sustainability by reducing waste.

Community fridges make food assistance dignified and build a more food equitable city for all residents.

Challenges

There are some challenges involved in running a community fridge, such as:

Funding – Ongoing costs for repairs, locks, utilities can be a financial burden without consistent donors.

Volunteers – More volunteers are often needed for maintenance, monitoring and restocking duties.
Food supply – Continuous food donations are needed from a variety of sources to meet demand.
Organization – Keeping items neatly stocked and clearly labeled takes daily effort.

Misuse – Occasionally issues arise like inappropriate dumping of unfit food.
Weather – Outdoor fridges are subject to extreme weather from heatwaves to winter storms.

Despite challenges, most community fridge organizers feel the benefits are well worth the effort.

How to get involved

There are several ways you can get involved with community fridge efforts:

Volunteer – Offer to help monitor, maintain and restock a fridge in your neighborhood.
Donate food – Drop off fresh, prepared foods that align with current needs.

Spread awareness – Tell others about your local community fridge and how it operates.
Fundraise – Organize drives or campaigns to support operational costs.
Partner – Collaborate with local farms, stores, or restaurants interested in donating.

Organize – Work to establish a new community fridge in an underserved area.

Check community fridge social media pages or contact organizers to learn about current volunteer and donation needs in your area.

Case Studies

Fridges Across Oakland – Oakland, CA

Fridges Across Oakland operates a network of 10 community fridges throughout lower-income neighborhoods in Oakland, CA. Their mission is to address food apartheid and build food security in areas underserved by grocery stores. Each fridge provides 24/7 access to healthy foods for approximately 500-1000 community members. The fridges are completely run and stocked by volunteers, with food donations from local stores, farms, and food distribution non-profits. In their first year of operation (2020), they distributed over 650,000 pounds of food, two-thirds of which was fresh produce. The success of Fridges Across Oakland sparked a wave of new community fridge projects throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

The People’s Fridge – Chicago, IL

Founded in 2016, The People’s Fridge has sustained community fridges throughout Chicago’s South Side neighborhoods. They partner with urban farms, food pantries, grocery stores, and restaurants to keep three locations consistently stocked with nutritious foods, particularly fresh produce. In 2020 alone, they recovered over 65,000 pounds of food that would have been wasted. The People’s Fridge has expanded beyond fridges into nutrition education, cooking classes, and advocacy to create lasting food system change in Chicago’s most impoverished communities.

Community Fridge MKE – Milwaukee, WI

Volunteers with Community Fridge MKE launched their first fridge in June 2020 in response to increased food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. They now operate three fridges supplying free food for Milwaukee residents in need. To keep fridges stocked, they partner with a local health clinic, urban farm, restaurants, grocery stores, and hold community food drives. In 2021, they distributed over 50,000 pounds of food and have inspired similar projects in other Wisconsin cities. Beyond addressing hunger, their mission is to empower communities through mutual aid and volunteerism.

Conclusion

In summary, community fridges are free food pantries where anyone can donate or take food as needed. They are community-run efforts operating on donations and volunteers to bring healthy, fresh foods to areas with limited food access. While keeping a community fridge running takes consistent work, the benefits for increasing food equity and reducing waste make it a worthwhile endeavor. Community fridges empower communities to come together and solve local problems around hunger and nutrition. As the community fridge movement continues growing, these grassroots efforts create more food-secure, just cities block by block.