There are lots of ways to share with the community fridge. If it’s safe, appropriate, and something a neighbor could use, we’d love to make room for it.

Fresh Food

• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Garden produce
• Eggs
• Bread, rolls, and baked goods
• Sealed, unopened dairy products
• Other fresh foods that can be safely stored

Prepared Meals

• Homemade meals
• Soups and casseroles
• Pasta, rice, and bean dishes
• Individual or family-sized portions
• Extra food from a gathering or event
• Leftover sandwiches, pizza, and other prepared foods from local businesses
• “Snack Packs” for kids (think healthy snacks to have after school)

Please label all prepared food with what it is and the date it was made. (more details in the “Label It” tab)

Pantry & Shelf-Stable Foods

• Canned goods like fruits, vegetables, baked beans, soups, meat & pasta meals like ravioli or mac & cheese, tuna or chicken, chili (pop-top cans whenever possible are hugely helpful – not everyone has a can opener)
• Uncooked pasta, rice, beans, and other pantry staples
• Cereal and granola
• Crackers and packaged snacks
• Unopened, shelf-stable groceries

Everyday Essentials

The pantry area also has space for some non-food essentials, including:

• Toiletries and personal hygiene items like deodorant, toothbrushes & toothpaste, body soap, shampoo, combs, hair ties, lip balm, toilet paper, body wipes (no razors or products containing alcohol, please)
• Feminine hygiene products
• Diapers for babies and toddlers, baby wipes
• Other everyday household or personal care items like laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, trash bags, dish soap

When in doubt about an item, check our “Skip It” list or reach out before bringing it. If you want to simplify what you share, you can look at the Amazon wishlist for the Community Fridge and either order from there or have a better idea what to look for. Choose to ship directly to us, or ship to yourself and bring it in!

Not everything belongs in the fridge. We want this to be a safe and welcoming resource for everyone, so there are a few things we cannot accept.

Food We Can’t Accept

• Raw meat
• Unpasteurized dairy or other unpasteurized products
• Expired food
• Spoiled, rotten, or otherwise unsafe food
• Opened packages
• Partially eaten food
• Food that has been left out or stored in a way that makes its safety uncertain

Medical & Personal Safety Items

Please do not leave:

• Medications
• Vitamins or supplements
• THC or cannabis products
• Razors, needles, scissors or other sharps

Alcohol-Containing Products

• Alcoholic beverages
• Mouthwash containing alcohol
• Other products containing alcohol that are not intended to be consumed as food

Not sure?

When in doubt, please don’t leave it. If you’re unsure whether something can be shared, reach out and ask. Our goal isn’t to make sharing complicated. These guidelines simply help us keep the fridge safe for everyone.

The goal is simple: share food you would feel good about serving to someone you love. Taking a few simple steps helps make sure your neighbor receives something safe and enjoyable.

Keep It Safe

• Prepare food using clean hands, utensils, counter space and containers, and ensure pets have not come in contact with food prep
• Use clean, food-safe containers.
• Refrigerate or freeze perishable food promptly. Don’t bring food that has been sitting out for an extended period of time.
• If food doesn’t look, smell, or seem safe to you, please don’t share it.
• When you’re unsure about the safety of something, it’s better to leave it out.

Package It Well

Whenever possible:

• Use containers with secure lids, and make sure they are sealed.
• Portion meals into individual or family-sized servings – there is need for both!
• Make sure containers won’t leak or disintegrate.
• Package food so it’s easy for someone to take and use.
• Label it (see more details about this in our “Label It” section)

Share It Promptly

If you’ve made extra food to share, bring it to the fridge as soon as reasonably possible so it can be properly refrigerated or frozen.

Label It

Help your neighbor know what they’re taking home. Every prepared meal should be clearly labeled before it goes into the fridge or freezer.

A little extra information helps, too.

If you’re able, including common allergens or helpful ingredient information is appreciated. If you’ve made something that is specifically gluten free (GF), doesn’t contain dairy (DF), or is vegan or vegetarian (V), adding those things to the label helps our community members with allergies or concerns consume food safely. Adding a little note when something is spicy is probably a good idea, too!

You don’t need a fancy label. A piece of masking tape and a marker works just fine.

Clear labels help our Fridge Fam keep things organized and help neighbors make informed choices.

Stay Connected. Be part of what’s happening. The community fridge is more than a place to leave or pick up food. It’s a community resource that grows through people sharing, helping, and staying connected.

Follow along to:

• See what’s being shared
• Hear what’s happening at the fridge
• Get updates and reminders
• Share ideas and needs
• Celebrate the ways our community is caring for one another

Want to Do More than Just Follow Along? Join the Fridge Fam!

However you show up, you’re part of it. The community fridge works because people in the community take ownership of it. The Fridge Fam is made up of neighbors who help keep the fridge clean, safe, stocked, and cared for. You don’t have to have any special experience. Just sign up for the ways you’d like to help.

And there are other ways to help, too.

You can choose what fits your life and your availability. You don’t have to do everything. Sometimes you share food. Sometimes you share your time. Sometimes you help provide what’s needed. Sometimes you simply use the fridge. That’s community.

Ready to be part of the team? Join the Fam!