Community Fridges
Community Fridges are public, 24/7 accessible refrigerators placed in community spaces where people can share and take food freely, often nicknamed “freedges”. They are mutual aid projects designed to reduce food waste and address food insecurity by making food donations, such as excess produce and prepared meals, available to anyone who needs them.
Food Banks
A food bank is an organization (frequently a not-for-profit) that collects, stores, and distributes food to other agencies, such as food pantries and meal programs, which then provide food directly to individuals and families in need. These organizations act as a central hub, sourcing large quantities of food from sources like farmers, retailers, manufacturers, and food drives, and making it available to community-level partners at low cost. While they may have one or more paid staff, food banks often rely on community volunteers.
Free Community Meals and Examples of Restaurants Offering Free Meals
Free community meals are meals provided by various organizations to serve people in need, often cooked by volunteers and served in a welcoming environment. They are found through local food banks, community centers, churches, and schools, and can be offered on a regular basis or during specific times like summer or after disasters. Many of these programs use surplus food to create meals and aim to reduce food waste while alleviating hunger and loneliness. In addition restaurants throughout the country from local “mom and pop” diners to nationwide chains have stepped up to support their hungry neighbors by offering free (or reduced price) meals to SNAP recipients at this time.