Community organizers, residents and elected officials celebrated the opening of four community-powered fridges on the North and Northwest Side of Milwaukee. A press conference and ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at Metcalfe Park Community Bridges on February 27.

The community-powered fridges were created in response to the closing of numerous grocery stores on Milwaukee’s North Side, which resulted in labeling these neighborhoods as food deserts. The refrigerators are designed for residents to be able to grab fresh fruits and vegetables for free. It is a take what you need, give what you can type of model.

Partners and sponsors of the community-powered fridges include: Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, Alderman Russell W. Stamper II, Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson-Bovell, Sherman Park Community Association, Tricklebee Cafe, OneMKE,  the Dominican Center, and FEED MKE. Together these organizations and elected officials have been able to place four refrigerators within the neighborhoods that are suffering from food scarcity.

Find a fridge near you at these locations:

Tricklebee Cafe:  4424 W. North Ave., 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday

Rooted & Rising: 3940 W. Lisbon Ave., 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Thursday and Friday

Sherman Park Community Center: 3526 W. Fond du Lac Ave., 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday- Friday

The Dominican Center: 2470 W. Locust St., 9 a.m. – 4 p. m.,  Monday and Friday (scheduled appointments are recommended)

Metcalfe Park Community Bridges: 3624 W. North Ave., 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Friday