Iowa City will construct a community fridge

Iowa City, Iowa – Iowa City is going to get a communal fridge, and it’s going to look a little different than your average food pantry.

As the name suggests, a community fridge is an outside refrigerator where people may always come by to pick up or give food.

The executive director of the nonprofit organization Wright House of Fashion, which promotes expression and inclusivity, is Andre Wright. He’ll have a communal refrigerator in his parking lot shortly.

We believe this is probably the most conspicuous location since many people who are likely homeless or experiencing food insecurity come through this parking lot and through this alleyway, according to Wright.

In the upcoming month, organizers intend to construct a building that will house a clothing closet, pantry, and refrigerator. They claimed that ready-to-eat meals will be donated by a number of eateries, and additional food can be donated by placing it in the refrigerator.

Community fridge organizer Felicia Pieper stated, “The biggest angle is getting food to people but also recognizing that if I have more food than I can consume myself, I want that to go to my neighbors and not the trash.”

Wright intends to expand the food and clothing exchange into a larger venture. Sewing together fabric and donated clothing was the afternoon activity for those at his studio. Free clothes, he said, will be provided by the refrigerator.

Wright stated, “You can take some of the existing things you already have and make it better. You don’t actually have to go buy everything new.”

The refrigerator will be positioned in front of Gilbert Street’s bus stop. The fridge will be maintained and cleaned daily, according to the organizers. They stated that the goal is to augment Iowa City’s current food pantries.

Therefore, Pieper explained, “it’s not necessarily a charity model where we’re donating food to more needy folks but rather we’re coming together as a community to share what we have.”