Join the Community Full Fridge Relay

The Community Full Fridge Relay is a community-wide effort to keep the Community Free Fridge at Second Harvest stocked, cleaned, and cared for by neighbors, for neighbors.

Groups “adopt” the fridge for one week at a time, helping care for this shared resource before passing the baton to the next group. Together, these weekly handoffs create a continuous chain of care that helps keep good food accessible for neighbors every day of the year.

The relay is built for groups to participate together.

Workplaces, faith communities, families, friend groups, neighborhood groups, sports teams, clubs, and other affinity groups are all encouraged to participate. Whether your group is large or small, there’s a place for you in the relay.

Groups commit to visiting the Community Free Fridge at least once during their adopted week. During that visit, groups are asked to:

• Clean and organize the fridge, freezer, and pantry cabinet
• Stock the space with food and/or pantry items

Please bring your own cleaning supplies.

The Community Free Fridge is open 24/7, so groups can visit whenever it works best for their schedule. Groups are welcome to visit more than once, but only one visit is required.

To complement existing food partnerships, we ask groups not to plan visits on Tuesdays or Sundays.

There’s no one “right” way to participate.

Some groups may:

• Host an item drive for pantry staples, diapers, or other essentials
• Shop together for items to stock the fridge
• Purchase ingredients and prepare a batch meal together
• Organize a cleaning and stocking visit
• Combine several of the ideas above

The goal is simply to come together and help keep the fridge full and welcoming for the next neighbor who needs it.

If your group is unable to stock the fridge as originally planned, you can also purchase a gift card at Harvest on Main Community Market. Our team will use those funds to stock the fridge on your behalf. Every $5 donated helps provide one ready-to-heat meal through our Second Serving program.

The Community Free Fridge at Second Harvest accepts a variety of food and household essentials.

Groups are welcome to stock:

• Fresh produce
• Dairy products
• Frozen foods
• Pantry staples such as canned goods, pasta, rice, cereal, and snacks
• Prepared meals
• Personal care and hygiene items such as soap, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, diapers, and menstrual products

Prepared foods should be packaged in individual or family-sized servings that are easy for neighbors to take and use. All prepared foods must be labeled with:

• Date prepared
• Common allergens (Milk, Eggs, Wheat, Soy, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Fish, and Shellfish)

For food safety reasons, we cannot accept:

• Expired items
• Unlabeled prepared foods
• Uncovered foods
• Alcoholic beverages

When in doubt, we encourage groups to leave only items they would feel comfortable serving their own family.