These 'Free Refrigerators' In Newark Are Easing Hunger Across The City

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A free meal can be worth its weight in gold.

Last week, the United Community Corporation (UCC) – a local nonprofit in Newark – unveiled its newest “community refrigerator” to the public outside First Presbyterian Church on Broad Street. It is open all day and night, and is stocked with items like milk, juice, cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables – all available at no cost to anyone who needs them.

“In a day and time where many are struggling to feed their families, this community refrigerator provides much needed assistance,” said the Rev. Carol Lynn Patterson, pastor of First Presbyterian Church.

Launched in January 2022, the UCC’s free community refrigerator program gives a hand up to people who can’t afford groceries, or who don’t have access to reliable and affordable transportation.

The UCC currently runs refrigerators in Newark’s central, east, south and west wards, with an additional location in the nearby town of Maplewood.

So far, the refrigerators been a big hit, the nonprofit said: they were used more than 22,500 times last year.

It’s a big help in cities like Newark, where the New Jersey Economic Development Authority has designated each of the city’s wards as “food deserts” – areas where residents lack meaningful access to affordable, high-quality and fresh food.

• Related: Newark Ranks High On List Of New Jersey's Worst 'Food Deserts'

According to UCC executive director Craig Mainor, local partners like First Presbyterian Church are helping to make the popular program possible.

“By placing these refrigerators in accessible, trusted locations, we are meeting our neighbors where they are and ensuring that no one has to choose between paying a bill and having a meal on their table,” Mainor said.

There continues to be an urgent need for food relief in New Jersey’s largest city, according to the UCC.

In addition to the community refrigerator program, the nonprofit manages and operates its Champion House Food Pantry, 19th Avenue Kitchen where on-site staff prepare hot meals, hosts monthly grocery distributions, and operates its “UCCafe” food truck, a specialized vehicle that provides prepared meals to individuals faced with barriers to reliable and affordable transportation to access nutritious food.

These services were accessed more than 80,000 times last year. Learn more here.

“We recognize that food insecurity doesn't exist in a vacuum,” Mainor said. “It’s a systemic issue that requires us to be present in every corner of the community.”

• Related: Free 'Community Refrigerators' Ease Food Insecurity In Essex County
• Related: Where To Get Food Assistance In All 21 New Jersey Counties

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