Next to McMillan’s Pub stands a remarkable community fridge at 2905 E. Simcoe St. in Lafayette. Standing over 6 feet tall and painted purple with giving hands, it embodies a simple yet powerful vow: “take what you need, and leave what you don’t.” This is one of five Lafayette Community Fridges across Acadiana, stocked with free food by volunteers to assist those in need.

Community Fridges: A Growing Phenomenon

Community fridges have been around for over a decade but gained significant popularity during the COVID pandemic. National rates of food insecurity soared during this time as people lost jobs and faced uncertainty. In 2022, 17 million households in the US reported trouble finding food. In Lafayette, in 2020, about 31,000 people faced food insecurity, and in 2022, the number increased to 35,900.Erin Quinn, a longtime volunteer at LCF, emphasizes that these fridges are not only for the less fortunate. “Yes, fighting food scarcity is one of our goals, but we’ve seen residents use it when they can’t afford groceries for their families. Just on Sunday, a guy passing through needed food. It truly helps anyone in need.”

The Goal of Lafayette Community Fridge

The goal of the Lafayette Community Fridge is multi-faceted. It not only helps tackle food insecurity but also eliminates food waste and empowers neighborhoods. Compared to traditional food assistance like diners and food banks that have limited hours or accept only certain foods, community fridges offer 24-hour access.Trinittea Barnett, a Northside resident, started a food pantry in her garden due to food insecurity among her neighbors. She has seen the limitations of traditional food sources. “I think these community fridges are popular because they offer easy and convenient access. After seeing and reading about them, I knew I wanted to do it.”After reaching out to LCF for help, Barnett was able to start a community fridge in 2023, a year after opening her own pantry.

Cost and Accessibility

On average, it costs about $30 a month for electricity, which is ideally covered by the hosts. If this is a concern, Quinn encourages reaching out to LCF for assistance. The mission is to have multiple fridges serving various neighborhoods across Acadiana.Community fridges are crucial in neighborhoods where traditional food assistance is hard to access. For example, those without cars often can’t reach food bank locations. In 2019, Walmart closed its Super Center on Northeast Evangeline Thruway, leaving a food desert. In 2012, Albertsons closed, and most recently, Shoppers Value Foods closed in 2020.Leonardo Meza-Juarez, who started FOOD Acadiana, emphasizes the importance of community support. “People don’t have easy access to stores anymore. Having a community fridge opened that gateway of support.” He himself has faced food insecurity and believes in collective efforts.

Donations and Volunteer Work

Along with donations from restaurants and other nonprofits, LCF accepts individual donations. Volunteers shop weekly to restock the fridge. “We ask those who come to the pantry what they need, so we can get it for them when we shop,” Quinn says.If you think a community fridge would be a good fit in your neighborhood or business, the team would love to hear from you. Visit their Facebook page or email lafayettecommunityfridge@gmail.com.Lafayette Community Fridge can be contacted on Instagram, Facebook, or by email. It stands as a symbol of community support in the face of food insecurity.