A community fridge is a refrigerator (colloquially "fridge") located in a public space. Sometimes called freedges, they are a type of mutual aid project that enables food to be shared within a community. Some community fridges also have an associated area for non-perishable food. Unlike traditional food pantries, these grassroots projects encourage anyone to put food in and take food out without limit, helping to remove the stigma from its use.^[1] The fridges take a decentralized approach, often being maintained by a network of volunteers, community members, local businesses, and larger organizations. Food in community fridges is primarily donated by individuals or food rescue organizations and can be sourced from a variety of places. Major grocers like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods donate large amounts of excess foods to food rescue organizations that then donate to these fridges.^[2] The food donated would have otherwise been thrown out.

The main aim of community fridges is to reduce food insecurity, while also mitigating food waste. They enable people facing hardship to have easy access to fresh, nutritious food. Fridges offer a wide range of food from canned goods to fresh produce to pre-cooked meals. Pre-cooked meals are required to be labeled when donated. Many fridges also accept household items, sanitary goods, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, offered masks and other PPE. ^[3] Community fridges can also serve as social spaces that enable people to connect to their communities; Shelterforce magazine notes that "community fridges seem to have discovered a sweet spot in service delivery: close enough to feel the warmth of shared humanity, but far enough to avoid a sense of resentment or burden."^[4] Many fridges also painted by from local artists.^[5]

The first community fridges were set up in Germany,^[6] by a group called Foodsharing. The next community fridge was started in Spain in 2015.^[7] Community fridges draw inspiration from previous food initiatives.^[8]

In the UK, early community fridges were set up at Frome,^[9] South Derbyshire,^[10] Brixton (London),^[11] and Botley (Oxford).^[12] A national network of community fridges was set up in July 2017 by the environmental charity Hubbub UK, which offers a free support service to new projects.^[13]

Community fridges are a rapidly-growing phenomenon, with fridges also recently set up in New Zealand,^[14] India,^[15] Israel,^[16] the Netherlands,^[17] and Canada (Community Fridges Toronto has seven fridges).^[18]

Challenges surrounding community fridges include maintaining cleanliness, ensuring food safety, and making sure that mutual aid model of community fridges is not abused (e.g. that nobody profits from the food). In the UK, setting up a community fridge requires a rota of volunteers to clean the fridge and check the food; public liability insurance; the support of the local authority environmental health officer; and, evidently, a fridge and associated waste bins.^[41] Several community fridges in Germany were threatened with closure due to health concerns.^[42]

Community fridges are sometimes criticized for not providing a systemic solution to food insecurity.^[43] Fridges are needed by those who are actively hungry or do not have the means to access nutritious food, but do not address underlying causes of food insecurity.^[44]

Fridges are also occasionally criticized for not addressing the needs of a community.^[45] Often, food provided to the fridge does not meet the cultural and nutrition needs of the community.^[45] In addition, there is often controversy surrounding the legality of community fridges.^[46] Policies addressing maintaining a community fridge vary widely from community to community. Fridges must be placed on private property, which makes them dependent on the owners willingness to participate.^[47] In Boston's Allston Neighborhood, the Allston community fridge was forced to move because new property owners were no longer willing to house them.^[48]

• Little Free Pantries and Blessing Boxes