In a quiet corner of the Boothbay peninsula, a refrigerator hums gently inside a small shed outside the Boothbay Town Office. The Community Fridge, along with the organization’s other programs like Food for Thought, is one of the Boothbay Region Community Resource Council’s eight core programs designed to address basic needs and food insecurity.

It’s small and simple — a refrigerator, freezer, and shelves stocked with fresh produce, milk, and groceries. But behind that hum is a powerful idea that has inspired people around our peninsula, across Maine, and throughout the country: compassionate care and mutual aid through shared food.

A Community Fridge is a public refrigerator and pantry where anyone can take what they need and leave what they can — no questions asked. It operates on the principle that food is a basic human right and that communities can support one another directly. Open 24/7, community fridges are stocked through donations from local residents, restaurants, farmers, fishermen, grocers, volunteers, and community organizations.

The Boothbay Region Community Resource Council’s Community Fridge embodies this model of grassroots cooperation. Volunteers check temperatures, clean the fridge, and restock shelves daily. Farmers and fishermen bring fresh, local food, while neighbors drop off extra garden produce or meals they’ve prepared. A simple sign inside reads: "Take what you need, give what you can."

Similar fridges exist in places like Kittery, Skowhegan, and rural towns throughout Maine, each tailored to local needs. Some are hosted by churches or food pantries; others by businesses or mutual aid groups. All share the same mission: reducing food waste and hunger while fostering dignity, trust, and care.

The strength of the Community Fridge lies not only in the food it provides, but in the partnerships that sustain it. The Town of Boothbay’s support in hosting the fridge outside the Town Office demonstrates a shared commitment to meeting basic needs with dignity and accessibility. Its visible public location signals that food security is a community priority.

Behind the scenes, dedicated volunteers ensure the fridge remains clean, safe, and fully stocked. Their steady commitment keeps it running every day of the year.

Local churches and faith communities contribute food, funding, and volunteer support, reflecting a long-standing tradition of caring for neighbors in times of need. Area businesses donate daily and weekly — from fresh produce and dairy to prepared foods and pantry staples — helping reduce food waste while strengthening the local safety net.

Individual residents, including children and families, play an equally meaningful role. Neighbors drop off garden vegetables, extra groceries, and home-prepared meals. Children learn firsthand about generosity and shared responsibility when they help stock shelves or contribute from their own homes. These acts, large and small, reinforce the message that everyone can participate.

The Community Fridge is not the work of one organization alone. It is a living example of what becomes possible when local government, nonprofits, businesses, faith groups, volunteers, and residents come together with a shared belief: no one in our community should go hungry.

The Community Fridge movement fills an important gap in the fight against food insecurity. Traditional food pantries often have set hours, paperwork, or eligibility requirements — barriers that a community fridge removes.

The Community Fridge offers:

• Immediate access to food without stigma, shame, or delay

• Local food sharing from area businesses that reduces waste

• Empowerment of community members to contribute and care for one another

• Visible solidarity that reminds everyone: we are addressing food insecurity together

In the Boothbay region, the Community Fridge has become more than a source of nourishment. It is a symbol; a place where generosity meets need, where neighbors quietly take care of one another, and where the fridge door is never truly closed.

Across Maine and throughout the country, community fridges are creating small but mighty networks of care. Each fridge is shaped by its community’s volunteers, resources, and traditions, yet together they form a powerful movement toward shared abundance and mutual responsibility.

The Boothbay Region Community Resource Council’s Community Fridge stands as a testament to what can happen when a community decides that no one should go hungry and that the solution might begin with something as simple as a fridge plugged in, open to all.

Submitted by the Community Resource Council Board of Directors: Michelle Bouchard, Byron Cortez, Bob Drury, Angie McLellan, Lisa McSwain, Laurie Simmons, Kathie Stephenson, Emma Rose van der Veen, Reverend Todd Weir

The Community Resource Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, meaning it is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a tax-exempt charitable organization.