Second Harvest free fridge program expands

A free food program in Sharpsburg is expanding, enabling hundreds of people to have access to fruits, veggies, milk and eggs any time.

The Community Free Fridge at Second Harvest Community Thrift Store will be stocked three days a week, up from two, with fresh food, frozen meats and prepared meals.

“It already is designed to meet immediate hunger needs with anonymity and dignity,” said Bonnie DeMotte, executive director at Second Harvest. “No paperwork, no income questions.”

A $10,000 grant from Fox Chapel Area Rotary will ensure even more food is accessible.

Rotary members, through the club’s grant committee, select worthy programs each year to support, club member Bill Mooney said. The group has pledged support to Second Harvest in previous years.

“We are pleased to continue that,” Mooney said.

The Rotary has identified food insecurity as a significant global issue, Mooney said. With more than 100 members, the club has supported projects from planting food sources to nutritional education.

Locally, the Rotary has pledged help to Backpack for Hunger, Aspinwall Meals on Wheels, Sunny’s Community Food Kitchen and Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center Food Bank, among others.

“Rotary supports other initiatives as well to support transportation programs for residents in food deserts to receive round-trip service to food-shopping destinations,” Mooney said.

Money is raised through Rotary fundraisers, including its annual golf outing. The 2024 event was a record-breaker, bringing in more than $65,000 for community good.

Funding will allow DeMotte and her staff to buy food to supplement donations to the Free Fridge.

According to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, there is an 11.4% food insecurity rate in Allegheny County.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture labels Sharpsburg as a food desert because people don’t have walkable or convenient access to a grocery store.

Established in 2022, the Community Free Fridge aims to thwart food struggles.

“It’s neighbors supporting neighbors with food, in the same way that the thrift store does with clothing and other necessities,” DeMotte said.

The take-what-you-need, leave-what-you-can model is open 24/7.

People can bring food to two drop-off locations, one at Second Harvest along Clay Street and the other at Lauri Ann West Community Center along Powers Run Road in O’Hara.

Most-needed items include prepared meals, produce, dairy, pet supplies and juice.

DeMotte said that the Rotary grant dovetails a new partnership with Giant Eagle’s Flashfood program, which will double the funding benefits.

Through the Flashfood initiative, Second Harvest can buy meat, produce, dairy and bakery goods, as well as snacks and pantry staples that are nearing their best-by dates – all at a significant discount.

“Flashfood savings are more than 50%,” DeMotte said. “In this way, the grant will have double the impact to reduce food insecurity and reduce food waste in our community.”

To date, the Flashfood program has diverted 1.4 million pounds of food from landfills, according to the Giant Eagle website.

“Families and seniors experiencing food insecurity for a myriad of reasons are able to immediately alleviate hunger with anonymity,” DeMotte said. “If you’re hungry, we’ve got food for you.”