Milwaukee residents now have access to a network of five community-powered refrigerators aimed at combating food insecurity on the city’s North Side. A ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of four new fridges was held Friday, February 27th, at Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, located at 3624 W. North Ave.
The initiative arose in response to the closure of several grocery stores in the area, creating what officials have termed a “food desert.” Ald. Russell W. Stamper II, of Milwaukee’s 15th District, spearheaded the effort alongside FEED MKE, Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, and One MKE. “We could either complain about the problem, or we could come together to find a solution,” Stamper said at the ribbon-cutting event.
The first community fridge in Milwaukee opened in July 2025 at Tricklebee Café in the Sherman Park and Uptown neighborhoods, following the closure of a Pick ‘n Save on the North Side. Christie Melby-Gibbons, executive director of Tricklebee Café, described the community’s quick response to a recent temporary depletion of the fridge’s contents. “Within 20 minutes, a woman came in with bags of food and filled the fridge for less than $100,” she said.
The network operates on a “capture-what-you-need, depart-what-you-can” model, relying on community contributions of fresh produce and other healthy food options. Melody McCurtis, deputy director of Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, emphasized the importance of ensuring access to nutritious food for all. “Everybody deserves to eat. I can’t go to sleep at night knowing my neighbors are hungry,” she stated.
The locations of the five community-powered fridges are as follows:
- Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, 3624 W. North Ave.
- Rooted & Rising- Washington Park, 3940 W. Lisbon Ave.
- Sherman Park Community Association, 3526 W. Fond du Lac Ave.
- Dominican Center, 2470 W. Locust St.
- Tricklebee Café, 4424 W. North Ave.
