Community fridges in Los Angeles feed the hungry hit by coronavirus pandemic
- The fridges are unlocked, there are no lines to wait in, and people can take as much food as they want
- Los Angeles, which has very high levels of homelessness, is now hit hard by economic woes brought on by the pandemic
On a pavement in Los Angeles stands a shiny, clean refrigerator packed with milk, fruit, vegetables, chicken and other food, marked clearly as free for the taking.
The fridges are unlocked, no one watches over them, there are no forms to fill out or lines to wait in, and people can take as much food as they want. They are open every day, 24 hours a day.
A sign in English and Spanish says “Free food.”
“If you need to empty the fridge, no one will judge you. If you need to take one tomato, or you only put one tomato in there, do it,” said Marina Vergara, an organiser for LA Community Fridges, which has set up seven of the appliances and has plans for more.
“I thought the concept of having these community fridges up in neighbourhoods all around the city would make, you know, just this kind of aid more accessible,” said Vergara.