PDX Free Fridge - Regional Arts & Culture Council Grant

In the state of Oregon, the rate of food insecurity (being without access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food) is 14.6%. While traditional food pantries put a small dent in solving food insecurity, many people feel uncomfortable with food pantries because of the power dynamic or the idea that people who need access to food are inferior. Instead, many mutual-aid refrigerators have been popping up in front yards and sidewalks around the Portland metropolitan area. The organization known as PDX Free Fridge began by placing a running refrigerator in the front yard in order to foster community through free, accessible food. Many of these refrigerators are protected by plywood shelters created by volunteers. Mutual aid is when people take responsibility for caring for one another.

Painting the fridges inserts public art into high-traffic, low-income areas. In addition to viewing this art when visiting the fridge, the community will be able to help paint the fridge during our community paint day.

This project was funded in part by the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

Special thanks to PDX Free Fridge, RACC, Kanani Miyamoto, Wiley Image, Wayfinding Academy, Open Signal, and SE Uplift.