Community fridge operation continues to grow, as does need

Restaurants across the country throw away billions of pounds of food each year, while nearly 35 million people across the United States go hungry, according to Recycle Track Systems, which tracks food waste.

But in Richmond, which has a reputation as a “foodie” city, restaurants have another option.

RVA Community Fridges offers free food to anyone, no questions asked. The volunteer network of stocked refrigerators outside businesses around Richmond began in 2020 when founder Taylor Scott searched for a local community fridge to deposit her extra food, something she had done regularly when she lived in New Orleans. She was surprised to find that nothing like that existed in Richmond.

She decided to start one, and it has grown into a network of 14 fridges in different parts of town.

“The fridges are getting emptied out within hours, so just trying to find a way that we can help meet that need that's in the community as best as we can,” Scott said.

RVA Fridges accepts donations of any food except for raw meat, partially eaten food and anything unlabeled or expired. Volunteers provide easy and unmonitored access to food, from fresh produce to premade meals. The fridges require only an electrical outlet and permission from the host business. 

Chris McDaniel, a co-owner of Shelf Life Books, is happy to be able to help her community by hosting the West Cary Street fridge outside her shop. 

“I think the benefit is tremendous,” McDaniel said. “I haven't counted or analyzed but just anecdotally, I think that feeling of goodwill and community and of taking care of each other is really important, and that's what we try to foster as an ideal space inside our store. We try to nourish people's minds with what we do as a bookstore and the community fridge, of course, is nourishing people's bodies. I think that's just really important.”

Hiedi Kelly, the general manager of Rise, a local biscuit restaurant, said she’s noticed how recent federal budget issues - particularly cuts to the SNAP program - have sparked an increase in the number of people who are getting food from the fridges. She now drops off food daily at one of the fridges. 

“It wasn't such a big thing until the whole food stamps thing. Every once in a while I would stop by and drop some things off in here, but it was more run-down. They're putting so much into it now. I've noticed a huge change,” Kelly said.

The increase in demand is met by a group of more than 700 volunteers who clean, stock and maintain the fridges, according to Scott. 

According to Scott, RVA Community Fridges is funded entirely by the community. 

“When we first started, we had a GoFundMe, and that was how we would kind of fundraise for the first year and a half, ” she said.

Since then, the project has grown and required more money. Scott said the organization gets most of its funds from donations. It has an estimated annual budget of $65,193 as of December 8, 2025, according to its Open Collective, which provides an accounting of donations and expenses. 

Scott emphasized that the fridges are also sustained by partnerships with organizations and volunteers that donate their time to care for the fridges daily. 

One organization is Groundwork RVA, a community group dedicated to urban greening and youth-centered racial injustice. Kate Carline, the farm program manager for the group, volunteers for the Hillside Court fridge. She makes sure to keep that fridge stocked with food that especially appeals to young people. 

“We have youth from ages 4-18 and anywhere between, (and) up to 75 frequent our fridge and pantry at the farm,” she said, referring to the crop production farm in the community.

Carline said she is deeply rooted in her own experiences of living on government food assistance in 2021. As she continues to work in the field, she hopes to work with RVA Community Fridges to break down the stigma that you must be “unhoused” or “qualified” to use the fridges. 

“Everyone needs to know that we are all struggling to make ends meet and to take a meal from the fridge, and maybe even donate something back, should be a common thing with all of us,” she said. 

RVA Community Fridges are protected by Virginia’s Good Samaritan Law, which says that anyone giving help to those in need can't be held liable for any civil damages from that effort. This allows restaurants to donate extra food without fear of repercussions or liability, Scott said.

Scott said the fridges have grown in popularity over the past year, in part due to SNAP cuts and the rise of a homeless population in Richmond. 

“I would say the demand has gone up,” she said. “But also, the demand has consistently been going up since we put out the fridges, so it's not like anything new for us.”

As the holiday season approaches, Scott hopes the fridges can offer a warm meal, fresh produce and a sense of belonging.

“The fridges are for everyone,” she said.