A Community Fridge Pops Up in Venice
A Venice Community Fridge has popped up near Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, next to the Los Angeles Fire Department 63, located on Venice Boulevard.
LA Community Fridges, a mutual aid group combating food insecurity, encourages this type of independent effort. The fridge, covered in artistic designs, is cleaned and maintained by volunteers in the community for those in need and always available, according to the L.A. Community Fridges website.
There are around two dozen similar refrigerators throughout Los Angeles. An online map shares their locations and lists what’s available in each one, such as vegetables, water or drinks, bread, and more. The site also shares what’s needed. For example, it may request prepared meals. This allows for those wanting to donate to be able to donate effectively.
“There’s a little section where they can drop off dry goods, and items for the fridge and the freezer,” says Community Garden Associate Leslie Toscano. Toscano helps operate the garden program at S.P.Y. Safe Place for Youth, which is a nonprofit organization serving youth experiencing homelessness.
“It’s so easy and satisfying to help.I frequently bike to the 99 Cent Store or Ralph’s and fill my backpack with produce, dry goods or hygiene products and drop them off at the Venice Community Fridge,” shares local resident Ilsa Glanzberg. “Instagram posts when certain supplies are low which narrows my purchases that day. We can all make the lives of our neighbors better through this project. It’s a no brainer!”
Community volunteers including Alida Jacobs, her sister Iris Jacobs and a volunteer from Street Watch LA made the effort to relocate the Jefferson Community fridge (on Jefferson Boulevard) here when it could no longer be hosted in its original location. Iris added her artistry to the original artwork.
“It’s installed for the public and anyone can go at any time, it’s open 24/7,” says Toscano. “The donations have been going well, with the fridge replenished.
“The next thing we know, there’s no food left, so people are utilizing it. People just come by to see if there’s any food left or not,” she adds.
Captain Ted Kalnas at LAFD 63 next door says that they get calls asking about the fridge, indicating people are curious.
“Sometimes it’s new people and they are kind of surprised that there is a fridge there and sometimes we have folks who are homeless who go there consistently,” shared Toscano. Sometimes the youth use it as well.
“I feel it’s been really helpful. Food goes very quickly. It’s well-situated. It’s providing food for a lot of people. However, because it goes so quickly we are constantly in need of people to restock. In order to survive and be helpful, it does need to be a really robust community effort. We are always looking for more donations and support,” says Alida.
The flip side of the coin is that some feel it’s contributing to sanitation issues if participants use the nearby landscape as their personal restroom, and that there are other places to serve those in need.
“People usually clean up after one another,” Toscano adds. “I think it’s working out.”
According to its mission statement, “Los Angeles Community Fridges is a network of decentralized, independent refrigerators and pantries that provide food and vital supplies to our community through mutual aid.” It’s inspired by A New World In Our Hearts movement out of New York City, says Jacobs.
“Our mission is to strengthen communities and redistribute existing resources by providing tools and frameworks to ensure people-supported, ongoing, equal access to healthy food.”
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