frequently asked questions
who are we?
we are a grassroots collective dedicated to uplifting the food apartheid communities in the city of fort worth through mutual aid & education. our work is directly tied to our beliefs we believe in justice & humanity for all people we emphasize the importance of learning growing politically.
we do not tolerate bigotry within our collective sexism, misogyny, anti-black, and indigenous racism, transphobia, homophobic, ableism, are all violent and disrespectful acts towards to our community members.
we believe everyone deserves access to healthy food. food waste is something we need to address and eliminate. scarcity is a myth and we have been demonstrating that. food is the common bond that binds us all. sharing of food is where human connection and community happens. stronger communities is the solution to all our problems. sharing food is an activity that changes and strengthens relationships.
we believe that a community knows what’s best for that community. if a community wants a fridge we will help them set one up and if possible we will help and share resources and advice about what has worked or not worked for us.
how do the fridges work?
the fridge is accessible 24/7 for anyone who needs it. take what you need and leave what you can. please make sure your donation follows the guidelines.
can i buy food and share it in the fridge?
yes! the fridges are here for sharing food but they are also here for highlighting and addressing food waste! we’d much rather people talk to their local grocers and other businesses about sharing the good food that they would otherwise be throwing away!
when are the fridges open?
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
where are the fridges?
Eastside/Poly -United Fort Worth Justice Center: (2308 Vaughn Blvd. Fort Worth, Tx 76105)
Eastside/Poly -Ave K Church of Christ (3209 Ave K. Fort Worth, Tx 76105)
Eastside/Stop 6 -Tabor Farms: (3400 Village Creek Rd. Fort Worth, Tx 76105)
Southside/Atatiana - Goodwill North Central Texas Headquarters: (4005 Campus Drive. Fort Worth, TX 76119)
Northside - Northside Inter-Community Agency (1600 Circle Park Blvd. Fort Worth, TX 76164)
Westside- Westside Presbyterian Church (8700 Chapin Rd. Fort Worth, Tx 76126)
how do i donate food?
all fridges need to be constantly filled with food in the guideline. you can visit any fridge and donate whenever you can. please make sure your donation follows the guidelines.
which fridge is empty?
all our fridge babies need love @ all times. if there's ever not enough space in the fridge ask the host to leave it for back stock
how can i help?
food donations are the best way to help the fridge. please make sure your donation follows the guidelines. if you would like to volunteer to help with fridge maintenance, host a fridge or partner with us, please contact us here.
what does “mutual aid” mean?
we are not a charity although charity provides a materiel support it doesn’t address the cause or seek to make a long term change to the systems in place that creates houselessness.
mutual aid is based on love, ethics and sense of community it not only wants to provide material support but also address the root causes and further help people understand the importance of community building in a capitalist society which has taught us individualism. exchanges like these teach us to value people for their talents and the things we can share, instead of seeing each other as only bosses, employees or consumers.
mutual aid is the establishment of mutually beneficial relationships between people in a way that encourages cooperation instead of competition. all of us posses a wealth of skills, knowledge, and ideas that we can exchange with the people around us. if we can share these things among ourselves in a way that meets our basic needs while contributing what we have to the common good.
do you accept meat?
only canned meats (spam, vienna sausages).
do you take compost?
no.
what kinds of foods may be donated?
pre-packaged foods that are non-potentially hazardous (ie. “non-perishable” cans of food, aseptic boxes of soup, boxes of cereal, baked goods, bottled water, etc.) are all acceptable contributions for the fridges. please see the donation guidelines for specific examples.
should i label donated foods?
donated prepackaged food must show (unobscured) its complete original label, including name of the item/food, manufacturer information, list of ingredients, and expiration or sell-by date. donated prepared food shall be labeled with the name of the food, the source of the food, and the date of preparation. (example: lasagne -- spaghetti warehouse -- prepared 1/12/14) *this will only be accepted from restaurants / official food partners donated foods shall be labeled with the name of the food, the source of the food, and the date of preparation.
foods that may not be donated: the donated foods that are potentially hazardous must not be used for consumption past the shelf life expiration date or past 7 days after preparing and or opening from its original package.
food must not be donated if it’s damaged in the following ways:
canned foods that are heavily dented on the rim or seam packaged foods with missing or incomplete source/manufacturer labels.
distressed foods – foods that have been exposed to fire, flooding, excessive heat, smoke, radiation, other environmental contamination, or prolonged storage must not be donated for consumption by a consumer.
foods previously served to consumers may not be donated. home prepared foods no home-prepared potentially hazardous foods can be donated for human consumption.