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The Weber Fridge is a community fridge located at 2717 Washington Blvd. in Ogden.

Ryan Aston, Standard-Examiner

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The Weber Fridge is a community fridge located at 2717 Washington Blvd. in Ogden.

Photo supplied, Weber Fridge

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OGDEN — Since November 2022, a cohort of community-minded Ogdenites and volunteers from around the region have managed the Weber Fridge, a free community fridge and pantry used to redistribute food to those in need.

The fridge is located outdoors behind the artist collective Fiction at 2717 Washington Blvd. and is visible from the parking lot to the south. It is accessible by members of the community 24/7, regardless of their circumstances, backgrounds or living situations.

Izzie Herzog, Abby Musgrove and Paige Berhow count themselves among the many helping to run the project. And while their involvement is rewarding for them personally, they view themselves as stewards of a true community effort rooted in the principles of collaboration and mutual aid.

“This fridge belongs to the community, and the community sustains it; we just kind of herd the cats,” Musgrove said. “We definitely have a responsibility for the fridge in that we’re not going to let it disappear, we’re not going to let it go away, we’re not going to let it go to ruin or anything, but really it is mutual aid. It’s a community taking care of each other.”

Berhow noted that a variety of people use the community fridge, and their stories are deeply impactful.

“There’s a lady that comes fairly regularly, and she’s in a wheelchair and she just lives on the street and it just breaks my heart,” Berhow said. “There was another guy a while ago who had a trach and it’s like, I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have to do trach maintenance on the street. Kids who have aged out of the fostering system who don’t have any resources or anywhere to go, a lot of LGBTQ kids who have been disowned that are just out on the street — there’s a broad spectrum. And a lot of it is single moms working three jobs; they don’t really have time to cook.”

Added Herzog: “A lot of people drive by unsheltered people on the street and don’t connect. I think that contributes a lot to the powerlessness as you see all these people struggling, but you maybe feel intimidated about how to connect.

“Sometimes, being at the fridge is just that for people. It builds community. It shows unsheltered people that they’re not just always going to be driven by and passed by and never talked to. It also shows people that unsheltered people, we can connect with them. We can help them. We can all support each other.”

While a variety of items are accepted for donation, those providing hydration are a top priority as hot, dry weather sets in.

“Always water bottles, especially if you can freeze them before. People are always hot and always thirsty in the summer,” Herzog said. “And then calorically dense foods that have everything you need … If you make a homemade meal, and you tape a fork to the side, that means that now someone can access that food they couldn’t before.”

Homemade items must be labeled with the ingredients used and the date they were prepared. Wipes, feminine hygiene products and canned foods were also mentioned as accepted items. However, Herzog urged people not to deliberate too much about what they should donate, as needs come in all shapes and sizes.

“We want anything and everything,” Herzog said. “The more food that’s in the fridge, the more people get fed. The only things we don’t accept are clothing and household goods, but we accept all sorts of hygiene items, toiletries and any type of food, as long as it isn’t expired (or spoiled).”

In addition to donations from individuals, the Weber Fridge group is also seeking connections with volunteers, as well as restaurants or grocery stores interested in donating overstock or day-old goods. The group also hopes to connect with organizations interested in providing space for additional community fridges.

For more information, check @WeberFridge on Facebook and Instagram or email the volunteer group directly via weberfridge@gmail.com.