Odds are, you’ve passed by an outdoor fridge once or twice when walking around the city. These volunteer-run neighborhood fridges are one of many local efforts to fight household food insecurity, which doubled in Massachusetts during the pandemic.

Today we’re helping you stock up on information about local community fridges, from where to find them to how you can get involved.

What items are accepted?

Community fridges are typically stocked with groceries ranging from fresh produce to canned and packaged foods. Some fridges accept otherhousehold essentials and toiletries.

Refer to this guide of safe food items that are often requested before you head over to donate. It’s always best to check the Instagram page or website of the specific fridge to confirm what they accept.

Is there a limit to how much people can take?

Nope — the idea is to take what you need, give what you can.

When are they open?

Thanks to local volunteers, community fridges are accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Can I set up a community fridge?

Absolutely. The City of Boston has a toolkit for residents who are interested in starting a fridge, with resources on finding mutual aid funding + key questions to consider. The City recommends first reaching out to the Office of Food Justice with any questions.

Where can I find a fridge?

The Boston area is home to 20+ fridges. Here are just a few you can find in the city:

Brookline Community Fridge, 7 Station St.
Fridge in the Square, 45 Mt. Auburn St.
Jamaica Plain Community Fridge, 672 Centre St.
Malden Community Fridge, 196 Canal St.
Somerville Community Fridge, 35 Prospect St. and 36 Sewall St.

Want to lend a helping hand? Once you’ve located the fridge in your area, contact them for details on volunteering to help serve your community and keep Boston fed.