Help replace the Friendly Fridge BX's fridge!

"There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about." – Margaret J. Wheatley

For almost three years, the Friendly Fridge BX -a community refrigerator has sat in its place on the sidewalk, happily serving its purpose of providing access to food for anyone who needs a little extra help. This includes all of us -mothers, fathers, senior citizens, hardworking folks, houseless, students, grandmothers….and so many more. The surrounding community and beyond have shown incredible support in so many ways and more importantly, the Fridge has been safeguarded by so many neighbors, nearby businesses and dedicated volunteers.

Sadly, this past Saturday morning brought horrible news of the Fridge experiencing an appalling act of vandalism. We found the inside of the Fridge drenched in black paint from an upturned gallon, rendering it unusable. Because this unfortunate and incredibly selfish act affects hundreds of folks who come to the Fridge to get food daily, we want to move quickly to get the Fridge back up and running.

When the news of this incident was shared, SO many people reached out and asked how to help. It's astounding yet not surprising because as Mr. Roger's mama told him, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

We investigated the option of cleaning it all out but the paint that was dumped is toxic and it went down into the motor -which will send fumes up into the food inside. It has been determined that it will be much safer to purchase a new refrigerator. This is where the community needs your help!

This is what this your donated funds will go towards:

1. New industrial glass door refrigerator exactly like the current one = $2174. We have used standard home refrigerators in the past however the glass doors save a sizable amount of electricity by allowing folks to see what is inside without opening the door. Additionally, the space of this refrigerator is conducive to the amount of food that is now coming in.

2. Removal and disposal of the current refrigerator = $300. It's heavy! And needs to be disposed of in a safe manner.

3. Construction of a security door that will be used to lock the Fridge at night =$500. This is unfortunate but necessary as the new Fridge will need to be safeguarded. Volunteers are already lined up to help open and close the Fridge on a daily basis -which is wonderful!

Additional Notes:

Some folks have already sent a total of $575 to help. If more than the asked amount is raised, all extras will go towards warm meals and sandwiches purchased from local delis and restaurants that have been partnering with the Friendly Fridge BX. It's a win-win situation.

All of your donations will be tax-deductible. The Friendly Fridge Foundation is 100% volunteer-run and has no administrative costs. (No one makes money from this non-profit.) All funds go directly to purchasing meals, sandwiches and produce as well as transportation of redirected foods.

Thank you again for your kind words, thoughtful actions and continued support. This community refrigerator exists because of all of you. Pa'lante!