MARLBOROUGH – It’s hard to keep the shelves stocked for long at the Friends Fridge on Prospect Street.
And that’s a good thing.
It means those who need food have been able to get it; once those shelves empty, it takes a message or two on social media to refill them, and quickly.
Since opening last spring, the Friends Fridge – on the grounds of Immaculate Conception Church – has provided nonperishable goods, along with fresh fruits and vegetables, on a 24/7 basis.
“We’re getting a lot of use of the fridge,” said Katelyn Massey, a senior at Advanced Math and Science Academy who spearheaded the effort to open the fridge as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project.
RELATED CONTENT: Friends Fridge opens for those in need
The Friends Fridge opened in late May after several months of preparation. The right side of the fridge is the cupboard, where nonperishable items are stored. On the left side is the refrigerator/freezer, which operates on a combination of battery and solar power.
The items most in demand include pasta, canned goods, frozen vegetables, bread, produce and yogurt.
According to Massey, the Friends Fridge has its own Facebook page, and it currently has more than 1,300 members. These members keep an eye on what’s in the cupboard and refrigerator/freezer; if supplies are running low, someone posts on the page, and within hours the shelves are stocked again.
“The pantry is always, and I mean always, stocked with canned goods, dry goods and hygiene products,” said Massey.
Local businesses have been key to keeping the fridge full. Massey said that Hannaford’s Supermarkets donates weekly, “and there is significant support from local businesses, including the Marlborough Dairy Queen, especially when there is an overflow of cold produce and food.”
The community comes together even when the issue is something else.
Massey said that a couple of months ago, someone noticed ants around the foot of the Fridge. One social media post later, a local exterminator stopped by and took care of the problem for free.
“The local community helps in so many ways,” she said.
The Friends Fridge is being used “by so many different groups of people — elderly individuals, young children, single moms, homeless people, and others from various demographics — demonstrating how the community comes together,” said Massey.
To find out how to help, Massey said the best way is to visit the Facebook page — https://www.facebook.com/groups/1464595637477387
