The Bolton Hill area now has a new way to share food, reduce waste and strengthen community care. Bmore Community Fridge Network (BCFN) has opened a community fridge and pantry at Woofotel, a pet care facility located at 863 N. Howard St. The fridge is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., making it the closest and most accessible location to Bolton Hill.
Bmore Community Fridge Network is a grassroots initiative combating food insecurity and food waste throughout the city. The group recently has expanded into several county locations, as well. The concept is simple but powerful: “Take what you need, leave what you can.” Each fridge and pantry provides free, easily accessible food to anyone, 24/7 or during set hours, no questions asked.
Stocked and maintained by volunteers and community members, these fridges rely on collective generosity — a shared effort to ensure that everyone has access to fresh, healthy food. The network has both full-size and mini fridges, pantry-only locations and pet pantries. They have partnerships with Future ThinkHub and Leftover Love Inc. Both non-profits provide some of the rescued food to help fill the fridges.
BCFN was co-founded by four community leaders, two with roots in Bolton Hill. Elizabeth Ann Miller, an artist, art educator and community organizer, and Marci Yankelov, a REALTOR® , BHCA board member and a longtime food rescue coordinator, lived in the neighborhood and helped shape the vision of the network. They are joined by Julie Kichline, owner of Kik-line Design, who has been instrumental in creating the network’s brand, design, graphics and site map. The fourth co-founder, Lila Perilloux, is a former consultant who retired to become a full-time volunteer.
The fridge at Woofotel extends BFCN’s mission into our backyard. It includes both a refrigerator for fresh items and a dry pantry for shelf-stable goods and hygiene items. Community members are encouraged to contribute regularly by donating fruits and vegetables, packaged meals, snacks, drinks and small hygiene items.
Homemade meals are welcome and should be labeled clearly with basic ingredients, allergens and the date. An easy way to contribute is by cooking a little extra so you have leftovers that can go into the fridge or get together with friends to make sandwiches. Another way to help is to give a second life to single-use plastic containers from food deliveries and groceries, which the network encourages neighbors to collect and share with community cooks.
Moving into the colder months, donations of soups, stews, and ready-to-heat meals are especially appreciated. Even small contributions add up to a big impact when shared across our neighborhood. Marci says. “We could fill these fridges multiple times a day and they would still empty quickly.”
The Bmore Community Fridge Network reminds us that food is more than sustenance — it’s a form of care, connection, and solidarity. By participating, Bolton Hill residents can help ensure that neighbors in our city have access to good food and the dignity that comes with it.
Other nearby fridge locations are at 2122 Maryland Ave., 1820 Pennsylvania Ave. and at Red Emma’s bookstore/café, 3128 Greenmount Ave. See a map of fridge and pantry locations, and learn more about how you can contribute by volunteering or hosting a site here: https://linktr.ee/bmorecommunityfridgenetwork.
BCFN has a Facebook page and invites interested parties to join the conversation. Fridge network leaders also are available to speak at community events and conferences as well as help with corporate days of service.
–Marci Yankelov
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