About

Mission

Our mission is to empower and collaborate with local communities to ensure that no wholesome and nutritious food goes to waste and instead goes to everyone in need in a just, equitable, inclusive and caring way.

What is a People's Fridge?

The People's Fridge is a community fridge where anyone can take free food and anyone can leave produce donations. It is free and open to all. No identification or proof of income is required. Masks are required when visiting and social distancing is mandated. There are currently three locations: Merced at 936 W 18th St., Merced in the Loughborough area and Livingston, CA.

Partners

This is a partnership between Community Initiatives for Collective Impact and the University of California, Merced. Our list of partners are endless. A few of which include the Merced County Food Bank, United Way of Merced County, First 5, the Pollination Project, Kind Neighbor, Freedge.org, the Merced County Times, Image Masters, Fresh Food Connect, The University of California’s Global Food Initiative, California Climate Action Corps, Delhi High School and Winton Lifeline Community Center.

We also want to recognize some food donors including, but not limited to community residents, local farmers, Fruta Loca, El Capitan Hotel, Bobcat Pantry, United Methodist Church, Dignity Health, the Merced County Food Bank and more! 

We would like to honor and thank all volunteers, student staff from UC Merced and our community neighbors and leaders. 

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Yokuts and Miwuk, the original inhabitants of the Merced area.  We embrace their continued connection to this region and thank them for allowing us to live, work, learn, and collaborate on their traditional homeland. We wish to pay our respects by acknowledging the Ancestors, Elders and Relatives of the Yokut and Miwuk communities and by affirming their sovereign rights as First Peoples.