Free 'Community Fridge' Is A Hit In Newark's South Ward

NEWARK, NJ — In Newark’s South Ward, an 8-foot-by-3-foot refrigerator sits, packed with milk, juice, lunch meat, bread, cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables and other grocery staples. The twist? Local residents can take anything they want – for free.

The “community fridge,” located at 84 Clinton Place, is a project of Leaders For Life (L4L), a nonprofit that is a member of the Newark Youth Workforce Collaborative. Residents can access it from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; there are no fees or signups required.

So far, L4L has been able to feed more than 575 people with the community fridge within the first six weeks, organizers said.

“The need is there,” said the group’s founder, Altarik White. “We have a very high poverty rate in this ward.”

White should know. During his time coaching at Malcolm X Shabazz High School and Weequahic High School, about 90 percent of the student population qualified for free or reduced lunch. And today, 100 percent of students in LFL’s after-school program, its alternative high school and its middle school transition program qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Last summer, community partners like Newark Opportunity Youth Network (NOYN) and the Victoria Foundation helped provide additional funds for L4L to continue providing meals to the community. So when a resident approached White with the idea to create a community fridge that could feed the whole neighborhood, it was a no-brainer.

“I just took it from there,” White said. “I’m the type of person where you can’t tell me a good idea and not expect me to run with it.”

White spent a few months gathering funds and building partnerships to stock the fridge. And on Aug. 11, just a few days after his 50th birthday, he presented the neighborhood with his new gift.

It’s since caught the eyes of other Newark residents. So far, Newark Beverage Inc., Mayor Ras Baraka and Newark City Hall have pitched in for the cause. And many residents in the South Ward have also contributed to the community fridge with either food drop-offs or $5, $10 or $20 donations.

“Every little bit helps,” White said.

In the first weeks of the fridge, White said some young people felt uncomfortable or insecure about getting food or asking for help. But he hopes to build more relationships in the community to break through that barrier.

“I had it like that as a kid,” the community activist recalled. “I was homeless at one point and I still didn’t want to take from anyone – and Lord knows I needed it.”

“At the end of the day, we have to do a better job in supporting families,” White insisted. “We have to do a better job in removing those insecurities. We have to do a better job of letting families know we are all in this together.”

Robert Clark, CEO of the NOYN, has also experienced what it’s like to be without a home.

“Like Altarik, there was a point in time that I was homeless and didn’t know where my next meal would come from,” Clark said, commending his peer.

“By recognizing that wraparound services, like the community fridge, are necessary to serve young people holistically, Altarik is continuing to establish Leaders for Life as the go-to spot for education, job training, and support services in the South Ward,” Clark said.

White said he hopes to expand the hours that the community fridge is open in the near future.

“If we can service 575 families in six weeks, what happens when we leave it out overnight?” White asked. “That’s more and more families who’ll be able to enjoy the goods. We’re not there yet, but we’re going to get there.”

Want to help keep the community fridge going? L4L is not currently accepting dry goods or pantry items due to lack of storage, but those interested in donating can call LFL at 973-855-4950 to schedule a drop-off time, or visit leaders4lifenj.org/donation to make a one-time or monthly donation.

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