The newest Solar Fridge in Philly + Retail Rescue

Exploring Community Fridges to Nourish West Philly

Volunteering with the Fridge on 40th Street in West Philadelphia has been an exciting journey, one that’s deepened my commitment to food equity and access for the community. I started working with two dedicated UPenn students on a new initiative—a solar-powered fridge pilot program. They introduced this sustainable twist to the community fridge model, making fresh food donations more accessible and eco-friendly, but with using energy from the sun!

The experience has been incredibly rewarding. We started with emailing different fridges off home depot until one said yes and shipped us the solar fridge! How cool! I do think it's really cool that this solar fridge pilot represents a greener way to bridge gaps in food access, offering a model for future community fridges to embrace renewable energy. Pictures below are us testing out the solar panels.

This work has inspired me to think bigger. Lately, I’ve felt the urge to expand the reach of community fridges in other areas where access to fresh, healthy food can make a big impact. I've been creating a list of potential places, reaching out to find communities that could benefit. I made a list of nearly 53 pantries/nonprofits/ churches that might be able to use a fridge to serve their community and I called/emailed every single one.

Each conversation, every potential location I add to the list, feels like a step toward something bigger. I did't realize all of the barriers with Health Department and health codes. Every location has its own set of hurdles. Some worry about the maintenance of the fridge, others about potential legalities, electricity use, or nonprofit sustainability status/funding. The barriers can be frustrating, especially since I’ve seen firsthand how impactful a community fridge can be. While each place I’ve approached has shown interest, the journey to getting a new fridge approved involves more than just dropping it off and stocking it with food. Each location requires unique conversations about logistics, permissions, and upkeep.

To address the challenge of stocking the fridges sustainably, I’ve reached out to stores like Trader Joe’s, Wawa, and Whole Foods, hoping to secure food through a process known as “retail rescue.” This approach allows us to use food that might otherwise go to waste to keep the fridges filled with fresh, healthy options for the community. These calls are the start of what I hope will be ongoing partnerships that can make a huge difference in sustaining this initiative.

Despite the obstacles, I’m hopeful about where this project can go. Starting with the pilot at Fridge on 40th Street has shown me that sustainable solutions are possible when we work together. For now, I’ll keep making my list, having these conversations, and breaking down barriers, one community fridge at a time