Millvale to celebrate 3 years of revamped Free Fridge and Pantry with costume giveaway

An upcoming celebration just got better.

A birthday party for the Free Fridge and Pantry is being coupled with a Halloween costume giveaway from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 11 behind Millvale Community Library, 213 Grant Ave.

The Millvale Free Fridge and Pantry is a year-round community resource in Millvale available 24 hours a day and seven days a week. With this being the third year of marking its installation, a birthday party is being held to celebrate its success helping others in need.

Caden Currykosky, a 2025 North Allegheny graduate, got the idea in 2023 for his Eagle Scout project, and it has proven to be a vital resource for those in need, according to his mother, Kim.

“We want (people) to know that this is here for you. You can shop like you would at a grocery store. It’s really well cared for because we always want the patrons to feel there’s dignity to what they’re doing,” Kim Currykosky said.

To celebrate, they’re holding a birthday party. But, in the theme of giving back to others, the Emma Munson Foundation also is hosting one of its Halloween costume giveaways at the event.

This is the ninth year the foundation has held its costume collection and giveaway, which takes place in and around the city of Pittsburgh. The foundation was created in memory of 2013 North Allegheny graduate Emma Munson, who died during her freshman year at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va., according to the foundation’s website.

The giveaway started nine years ago with a costume party at Providence Connections in Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights neighborhood, according to Michael Munson of the Emma Munson Foundation. He and his family learned Halloween costumes were a luxury to many families so now the foundation gives away a few thousand costumes at 10 events across Pittsburgh every year.

Volunteers help collect, sort and help distribute the costumes at the events until late October.

“The program has grown and the joy is spreading,” he said. “We’ve seen first-hand that their eyes light up and that they are living their best childhood. What we like the most about this program is that unlike other giving programs, the children actually make the choice.”

Families can donate new or gently used costumes or pick one out for free, one per child, 18 and younger. Adults must accompany children 9 and younger.

Kim Currykosky said the foundation also purchased a new refrigerator to replace the pantry’s former one and hired Pittsburgh artist Zachary Rutter to paint it with vibrant, fun colors.

“This is going to be a fun party,” she said.

The entire Currykosky family, including her husband and Caden’s brother, Cole, a North Allegheny junior, regularly stocks and manages the pantry and refrigerator with the help other volunteers, all under the umbrella of the Millvale Community Library.

One of the goals is to promote food security and prevent food waste in the region. No one has to sign up or give their name or financial information to get food, Kim Currykosky said.

The food pantry already had been at the site for years, as it was a project of a local Girl Scout troop. The well-used box was in need of refurbishment, which Caden and his fellow Scouts provided three years ago.

Caden is now a freshman at Penn State Behrend in Erie, where he’s playing water polo.

More volunteers are needed to help clean and organize the pantry and refrigerator, Kim Currykosky said.

Local businesses, stores and restaurants also donate food to the pantry.

Kim Currykosky was there for three hours over Labor Day weekend, and 12 people stopped by in that time frame.

She said it’s great that the pantry helps so many people, but it also saddens her that it has to be there. Some are new visitors, while other shoppers are regulars, coming from as far away as Penn Hills.

Cole, a member of Student Council, is organizing a food drive for the pantry to be held at the senior high from Nov. 17-21.

The community is welcome to drop off items at the front office, Kim Currykosky said.

Nonperishables that are not expired, can openers and toiletries for men, women and children are welcome. Some of the most needed products include rice, pasta, tuna, cereal, candy, peanut butter, jelly, soup, crackers, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, combs, brushes, hair ties, body spray, soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste.

“We also take reusable shopping bags as the patrons can use those to “shop” for items in the pantries,” she said.

The pantry operates under the guardianship of Millvale Community Library. For details, visit millvalelibrary.org.

An Amazon wishlist is available and will ship donations directed to the Millvale library. Items can also be dropped off at the library.