What started as a grassroots effort to combat food insecurity and food waste in Europe in 2015 has resulted in brightly painted refrigerators popping up on street corners across the U.S.
Later this year, Springfield’s first community fridge will be built by Drury University architecture students and professional mentors near the street entrance of Urban Roots Farm, 823 W. State Ave., thanks to the efforts of West Central neighbor Mal Bailey, local architect Kate Stockton, Urban Roots Farm, the West Central Neighborhood Alliance and Drury University’s chapter of the American Institute of Architecture Students’ Freedom by Design entity.
A community fridge is a refrigerator located in a public space. Also known in other states as “love fridges” or “freedges,” the refrigerators offer free food, household and hygiene items to anyone who needs them. Items for the fridges are donated by individuals and organizations, and the fridges are maintained by volunteers. Fresh produce courtesy of Urban Roots will be a staple among the fridge’s offerings.
The fridge came about a year ago as a result of West Central neighbor Mal Bailey, who was concerned about her neighbors’ ability to access healthy food. She posted on Facebook to thank a neighbor for popping up a free curbside food pantry.
“When I first moved to West Central in 2018, I knew it was one of the city’s poorest areas,” Bailey said. “Once the pandemic hit, I saw the needs in the neighborhood up close. I saw free pantries being put up and neighbors putting out food because they knew their neighbors needed help,” Bailey said.
Bailey connected with Chelsy Cantwell and Stockton and Drury University architecture faculty member Sara Khorshidifard, Ph.D., who directed Better Block SGF’s 2022 community design competition, We Create. We Create is an annual competition that engages community members to identify a concern in the city and develop solutions.
Khorshidifard challenged her students to develop a concept for a community fridge for Springfield. Urban Roots Farm volunteered space on their property to house the fridge, and funding was identified through donations and grants.
Three teams presented their design concepts at a March 5 meeting at Urban Roots Farm. The winning design includes a covered wooden structure with a metal roof with solar panels and space for a fridge, pantry cabinets, trash and compost bins and a storeroom.
“The presentations put together for the March 5 meeting were fabulous, and a great way to involve the stakeholders in this effort. I can see the fridge as a hub for other positive community involvement,” said Caron Parnell, West Central Neighborhood Alliance president.
Bailey and Khorshidifard estimate the community fridge will be in place by the end of the year. “Our neighbors will definitely benefit from this project,” Parnell added. “Thanks to our neighbor Mal, who put a lot of work into this effort!”