4 days Ago
Second Harvest Food Bank provides frozen meals like this one for the community fridge at the Trinity Community Center on Joliet Street. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save It’s hard to miss the community fridge at 2905 E. Simcoe St.
in Lafayette. Next to McMillan's Pub, it stands over 6 feet tall, is purple with a painting of giving hands, and a vow to "take what you need, and leave what you don’t." It is one of five Lafayette Community Fridges across Acadiana, which volunteers stock with free food ranging from prepared meals, leftovers, groceries or hygiene items for anyone who needs them.
Community fridges have been around for more than a decade, but they rose in popularity over the COVID pandemic. National rates of food insecurity shot up during the pandemic, especially at first at the start of the pandemic, as people lost jobs and so much was up in the air. And then toward then end when COVID supports began running out.
In 2022, 17 million households in the United States reported trouble finding food. Food insecurity in Lafayette in 2020 affected about 31,000 people, according to data from Feeding America. In 2022, the data showed about 35,900 people facing food insecurity.
“I think it's important to clear a misconception of these fridges which is that they are only for those that are less fortunate," said Erin Quinn, a longtime volunteer at LCF. "Yes, that is one of our goals, to fight food scarcity but I have on many occasions seen some people who are residents where this fridge is located and find it useful because they just can’t afford groceries for their family. “Just on Sunday, a guy drove up, he had been on the road for hours and he told me that he just needed food," Quinn siad.
"So it’s a way to help anyone honestly, even someone that is just passing through.” The goal of the Lafayette Community Fridge is to not only help tackle food insecurity, but it also helps eliminate food waste and empowers neighborhoods, Quinn said. Compared to more traditional forms of food assistance, such as diners, food banks and outreach programs that close during certain hours or only accept certain foods, community fridges offer 24-hour access.
Trinittea Barnett, a Northside resident started a food pantry in her garden because she saw food insecurity among her neighbors. She has worked for various organizations in Lafayette that donate food, and she has seen how access can be limited at diners or food banks. “I think these community fridges are also popular because it’s easy access for those who use it and convenient for those who want to stock it," said Barnett.
"I’ve always wanted to do it after seeing and reading more about it." After reaching out to LCF about help with starting a community fridge, Barnett was able to get assistance and had a community fridge in 2023, a year after opening her own pantry in 2022. On average, it costs about $30 a month toward your electric bill, which these costs are ideally covered by the hosts, but if this is the only deterrent for you not to host a fridge, Quinn asks that you reach out to LCF so they can help.
"The mission is to have multiple fridges serving a variety of neighborhoods throughout Acadiana." Community fridges are especially critical in neighborhoods where traditional forms of food assistance are difficult to access. For instance, individuals without cars are often unable to reach food bank locations.
In 2019, Walmart decided to close its Super Center on Northeast Evangeline Thruway leaving a food desert in that section of Lafayette. In 2012, Albertsons also closed on Evangeline thruway, and most recently, Shoppers Value Foods closed its doors in 2020 at its University Avenue location. “I think it’s also important to note that people don’t have means of transportation to stores because these groceries stores are not so local anymore on the northside especially," said Leonardo Meza-Juarez, who started a charity-based organization called FOOD Acadiana, which stands for Feeding Others: Outreach & Distribution.
"So to have somewhere to turn even if it’s a neighbor you never met who started a community fridge really opened that gateway of having community support." Meza-Juarez has had his own struggles with food insecurity and says he believes a collective community effort can help tackle the problem and that everyone can be a resources to strengthen the community. Along with donations from restaurants and other nonprofit organizations, LCF also accepts individual donations.
Volunteers with the organization shop weekly for products needed to restock the fridge. “So we go out and shop, and often times we are asking those who come to the pantry what they need so when we shop we can get it for them,” Quinn said. “If you think that a community fridge would be a good fit in your neighborhood or at your business the team would love to hear from you.
Visit our Facebook page and email us directly.” Lafayette Community Fridge can be contacted on Instagram, Facebook or by email at [email protected] .
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