Public refrigerator project feeds needy Marin families
Group provides food to those struggling during pandemic
Marin families struggling to afford food during the pandemic are getting a helping hand through a community refrigerator initiative.
Sabrina Socorro, an organizer of Marin Community Fridges, said the project is an effort to make sure families in marginalized communities have access to fresh produce, dairy and grains.
“I think folks are realizing that even during a pandemic there is still an abundance of resources and everyone should have their basic needs met,” Socorro said. “We can be there for each other and make it happen. This is not a case of charity. This is a case of solidarity. This is, ‘OK. I see you and your liberation is my liberation. Your wellness is my wellness. We are stronger together.’”
The effort launched with one fridge that was donated by San Francisco residents and set up in late August in San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood. A second fridge is planned in the Santa Venetia neighborhood of San Rafael.
“It’s accessible 24/7 to the public,” Socorro said. “No questions asked. People can come and give or take however much they need.”
So far, surrounding business owners have provided power to the fridge. Organizers also hired a local carpenter to build a shelter to protect the fridge from rain and an artist to decorate it with teal paint and images of fresh food.
Sunday is the main stocking day, although the fridge is refilled multiple times a week. Socorro said the organizers get requests from residents.
“Cooking oil, Maseca flour, butter, eggs, milk and stuff like that,” she said. “The staples go really quickly. We’ve been trying to partner with more farms and markets.”
Organizers plan to visit farmers markets and grocery stores to ask people to help by purchasing an extra
bundle of carrots or a second gallon of milk to help families in need. Potential donors can email marincommunityfridges@gmail.com for more information.
Socorro said the project was inspired by other groups doing the same work in Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and other major cities.
“This is happening all over the country,” she said.
Nancy Robles, another fridge organizer, said she is motivated by seeing people in her community experiencing food insecurity during a pandemic while the state and federal governments bailed out corporations.
“We live in the richest country in the world and instead of our government paying taxes to take care of people in need, they are taking care of corporations and funding wars while leaving people hanging out to dry,” Robles said.
“I wanted to make sure my community was able to get food even though food is not provided to them by the powers that be,” she said. “I want to make it clear that there is a need that should be met by our governments and not being met. So we had to step in to fill it.”