The Field Street Community Fridge Project
Tackling Food Waste and Food Insecurity on the Eastside of Detroit
Founded in 2022, The Field Street Community Fridge (FRIDGE) originated out of local residents’ coordinated food distribution efforts to address food scarcity made more dire during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Accessible 24/7 from the street, the FRIDGE is the public face of daily, year-round coordinated activities which include Food Rescue/Food Donation Procurement, FRIDGE On Site Operations, Community Access to Healthy Food, Neighborhood Food Distribution, Volunteer and Community Engagement, Partnership Relations and Fundraising.
Food Rescue & Food Donation Procurement
Fresh and nonperishable food donors include local and national grocery chains, food rescue agencies, businesses, faith based and civic organizations, Detroit community members, and suburban supporters. The FRIDGE Operator and team pick up food several times a week all year long regardless of the weather; some pickups are over an hour-long journey.
On Site Operations
The FRIDGE volunteers work to unload the boxes from the food rescues, sorting produce and other food items for the FRIDGE and for volunteer Distribution Team Leaders to pick up and further distribute in the neighborhood.
Community Access to Healthy FooD
While the Islandview neighborhood in which the FRIDGE is located is rapidly becoming gentrified, it is situated a block from residential care homes, shelters for homeless families, and substance abuse rehabilitation facilities. The FRIDGE is readily accessible to the public from the street.
Neighborhood Food Distribution
Every Sunday, volunteer Distribution Team Leaders pick up foods from the BBC CDC location for distribution at designated neighborhood sites. Food Share participants walk or drive to the sites to pick up food boxes. Distribution Team Leaders also deliver food boxes to participants who lack transportation or are otherwise housebound.
Volunteers & Community Engagement
BBC CDC is sustained by its dedicated volunteer corps as well as members of community and faith based organizations, local and extra-local Detroit residents.
