Local volunteers and organizers of community fridges across the Greater Boston area are expecting an uptick in need this holiday season.
Community fridges began popping up in and around Boston during the pandemic as a way to address food insecurity. Many are still in operation today, continuing to provide food to those in need. Those who run the fridges are expecting even more people to stop by in the coming weeks.
Nancy Dutton, an organizer with Watertown's community fridge, said during this time of year, they aim to get extra funding to stock the fridge more frequently, and supply baking items such as butter, oils and pie crust. She said those items go very quickly.
“It's a time when people give more, so we reach out more, and then we can put more food in," Dutton said, adding that non-food items such as diapers and personal care items are of great need as well.
Jenna Firshein of Watertown said she regularly donates to and takes from the Watertown community fridge. She dropped off a few items on Monday.
"I think it's a great way for people not to feel burdened to ask for help ... It just allows people to feel like they're shopping without having to ask for something, which is hard to do," Firshein said.
"It just allows people to feel like they're shopping."Jenna Firshein of Watertown
Isabel Campbell-Gross, an organizer with Fridge In The Square on Mt. Auburn Street in Cambridge, also said it's likely more people will stop by the fridge during the holiday season, when budgets run tight.
Campbell-Gross said donating to the fridge is "a great way to show your support and show community in a very visible, visceral way."
Alongside the expected increase in need this time of year, at least one community fridge is ramping up its offerings. The group behind the community fridge in Dorchester has been holding weekly pop-up distributions over the past year, but will open full-time in the second week of December on Claybourne Street.
Community fridges operate on different models, some relying on donations and others using grant money or partnerships with local restaurants to keep food stocked.
Aliza Arzt helps take care of three community fridges in Somerville. Every week, those fridges move 500-1,000 pounds of food that comes in from a number of sources, including farmers markets.
Jack Porter said he stops by the Newton community fridge on Watertown Street nearly every day to pick up items or drop some off.
"It does help, that extra little food. I know a lot of people are ashamed to take food," Porter told GBH News, adding that the fridge runs out very quickly.
On Monday, the Allston/Brighton community fridge was completely empty, and a volunteer told GBH News that's simply because the turnover rate is so high. The fridge fills up, then empties out very quickly.
Community fridges are run by volunteers in each city or town. A spokeswoman for the city of Boston said the city doesn't regulate the fridges or keep a database of where they're located. Eater Boston does maintain a map of locations. Updates about community fridges are frequently posted on social media by volunteers.
