Springfield now has two community fridge locations!
“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
CLICK HERE for more information about Better Block SGF.
Springfield’s first community fridge is located at Urban Roots Farm, at 823 W State St. in West Central neighborhood in Springfield, MO. The fridge is open 24/7. You can also leave food at the Urban Roots Location.
CLICK HERE for more information on the SGF Community Fridge Guidelines located at Urban Roots Farm.
The second community fridge recently opened in the Midtown Carnegie Branch Library, at 397 E Central St, Springfield, MO. It’s open Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed Sunday.
Springfield’s second community fridge is funded thanks to a partnership between several groups in the Ozarks including Nourish the Ozarks Program from the Community Partnership of the Ozarks, Ozark Headwaters Recycling, Springfield Community Gardens, and more.
Both community fridges are open to anyone in the community.