What's a "Freedge"?
If you’ve ever walked past a brightly painted refrigerator stocked with fresh produce, pantry staples, or ready-to-go meals labeled “Take What You Need, Leave What You Can,” you’ve likely encountered a Freedge.
Short for “free fridge,” a Freedge is a publicly accessible refrigerator—often paired with shelving for dry goods—that provides free food to anyone who needs it. No applications. No paperwork. No questions asked. It operates on one simple principle: community care in action.
But a Freedge is more than just a refrigerator. It’s a symbol of dignity, trust, and collective responsibility.
Food insecurity doesn’t always look like empty cupboards. Often, it looks like:
• Parents skipping meals so their children can eat
• Workers choosing between groceries and gas
• Seniors stretching food beyond its safe limits
• Families who earn too much to qualify for assistance, but not enough to stay stable
Freedges help fill these critical gaps. When they work well, they become a living reflection of a community that refuses to let anyone fall through the cracks.
Our community collaborative, Southside Pride, focused on supporting middle school success in South Elyria, is actively engaged in caring for their neighborhood Freedge. Through this work, the Freedge becomes more than a community resource; it becomes a hands-on leadership opportunity for local students to make a real difference.
Recently, Southside Pride youth hosted a Lights On After School event centered around assembling hygiene kits for the Freedge. The turnout was incredible. Students and parents showed up in force, ready to support their neighbors and get to work.
Hygiene items are often overlooked in conversations about food insecurity, yet they are essential. Soap, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, and deodorant are dignity items. By assembling hygiene kits, Southside Pride youth recognized that food security and personal care go hand in hand.
Next, Southside Pride students will assemble soup kits - simple, nourishing meal bundles that help families prepare a warm dinner at home. These kits stretch ingredients further and help households manage tight grocery budgets while ensuring neighbors have access to comforting, practical meals.