Springfield now has a free community fridge!
“A community fridge is a public fridge with the motto “take what you want, leave what you can.” It is a grassroots response and a form of mutual aid to address the food insecurity and food waste crisis in the community. Being food insecure means that a community is faced with the “uncertainty of having, or unable to acquire, enough food due to insufficient money or other resources.” – Free Fridge Springfield
Better Block SGF, an organization that “empowers individuals to reimagine the built environment to build a better city, one block at a time”, recognized a food insecurity challenges facing Springfield, MO. ” In 2022 the Better Block We Create design challenge was curated to receive creative solutions for the community fridge concept. In 2023, Springfield’s first community fridge was made possible from a collaborative effort of community minded activists, Urban Roots Farm, Better Block SGF, and Drury University’s Freedom by Design Chapter.” – Free Fridge Springfield
Springfield’s first community fridge is located at Urban Roots Farm, at 823 W State St. in West Central neighborhood in Springfield, MO.
The community fridge is open to anyone in the community.
Approved donations include sealed packaged foods, packaged cheese, uncut fresh fruit, uncut fresh vegetables, packaged table sauces, packaged pastries, packaged breads, unopened pasteurized milk & yogurt, unopened fruit juices, and fresh eggs (with a use-by date).
For more information on SGF Community Fridge Guidelines, CLICK HERE.
For more information about Better Block SGF, CLICK HERE.