Community Fridges

FRN installs and stocks community refrigerators so people experiencing hunger can access surplus food donations in a way most convenient to them.

In select regions, particularly urban areas, the majority of surplus food available is more often prepared food rather than raw produce or ingredients. Large convention centers, stadiums, and event venues often have large amounts of surplus prepared meals that far too often go to waste. Further, communities experiencing hunger often face barriers to accessing fresh meals (i.e., lack of transportation, limited community food distribution hours, lack of refrigeration, etc).

To combat these conflicting issues, FRN  recovers surplus food and redistributes freshly prepared meals to community fridges connected to communities experiencing hunger. The community fridge is a way to store and distribute perishable, delicious food that is accessible to community members at convenient locations and accessible anytime. By bringing the food directly where it is most needed, it increases regular access to nutritious, ready-made meals.

FRN’s Programs

FRN’s Community Refrigerator Initiative encompasses all of FRN’s programs. Several College Student Chapters have installed refrigerators on their campuses to provide students experiencing food insecurity with convenient access to pre-prepared meals or on-the-go options. FRN’s Produce Program ensures that these refrigerators are stocked for parents who may be unable to pick up produce at the end of the school day. Additionally, FRN’s Business and Event Food Recovery program delivers high-quality meals directly to refrigerators located in low-income housing areas, allowing residents to easily access meals right where they live.

College Student Chapters

FRN mobilizes college students to recover and donate surplus food from their campuses, reduce CO2 emissions, and advocate for a more equitable food system.