One Love Community Fridge, a nonprofit organization, is making significant strides in eradicating hunger and destigmatizing food insecurity. Founded by Asmeret Berhe-Lumax in June 2020 in Brooklyn, New York, the organization provides free food to local communities, emphasizing respect, dignity, and health. Since its inception, the initiative has expanded to 40 community fridges across New York City and recently ventured into Seattle, Washington.
The organization stocks its community fridges with fresh produce, ready-made meals, meats, and baked goods from generous donors. These fridges operate 24/7 and are accessible to anyone in need. A dedicated team ensures the cleanliness and constant stocking of these resources. The approach centers around community ownership, where locals take responsibility for maintaining these fridges.
"People are feeling ownership of the fridge and accountability and responsibility," said Asmeret Berhe-Lumax.
One Love Community Fridge adopts a tiered strategy to keep their fridges full, partnering with chefs, local individuals, small businesses, and large food partners. The organization redirected over 2.5 million pounds of food in 2024 alone, serving 800,000 people. This achievement highlights the urgent need to combat food insecurity, as approximately 47 million Americans face this challenge according to Feeding America.
"Food is the foundation of health. Food is information, food is medicine, food is power, and food is something that connects us all and that we all as human beings need to survive," Berhe-Lumax noted.
In New York City, an alarming statistic reveals that around one in five children experience food insecurity. One Love Community Fridge aims to address this issue by creating a respectful and dignified experience for those seeking assistance. The organization's design principles reflect this ethos, ensuring that everyone feels valued when accessing the fridges.
"We use design a lot in terms of how we build One Love — we emphasize in our design respect, dignity and health… when people come to the fridge, [we want them to] feel valued and seen and it changes how people show up in their communities," explained Berhe-Lumax.
The community fridges serve as an alternative to traditional food pantries by fostering a sense of community ownership. This model not only provides essential resources but also empowers individuals to take charge of their local fridges.
"Unlike a traditional food pantry, the community fridges are built in a way where they are 'owned and cared for by the community,'" Berhe-Lumax highlighted.
One Love Community Fridge has four distinct programs that help redirect food through a robust volunteer community from their food partners. The quality of the donations consistently amazes Berhe-Lumax.
"I'm literally blown away still — it's amazing quality, it's great food, and it's really amazing that it ends up going to families in need, rather than going to waste," she expressed.
The nonprofit's success relies heavily on collaborations with companies and farmers who have invested time and resources into providing surplus food.
"The companies have already invested into the food, or farmers have already helped grow it. So it's truly mind blowing," Berhe-Lumax remarked.
Beyond its current achievements, One Love Community Fridge looks to further expand its reach in other cities over the coming months. The organization remains committed to its mission of ensuring accessible nutrition for all.
"We have plans for other cities throughout the next coming months as well," Berhe-Lumax stated.
