Community fridge opens in Detroit’s Martin Park neighborhood
It’s the fifth appliance provided by Detroit Community Fridge.
Blanton L. Banks and wife Kimberly cut the ribbon to officially open the community refrigerator in the Martin Park neighborhood in Detroit, Mich.
In late May, a new community refrigerator opened outside Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Detroit’s Martin Park neighborhood, offering free food from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
The fridge is thanks to a partnership between the church and the New Martin Park District Association.
“We’re going to have it every day. Say you needed something — some milk or eggs or something. For those who may not be fortunate enough to pay for it, they can come down here and see if it’s something that will be useful for them, for their needs,” says Blanton L. Banks, the senior pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and vice president of the New Martin Park District Association.
Banks says the project has been a work-in-progress for the past year. Perishables and produce in the fridge have been donated by residents and grocery stores. Any person in the community is welcome to whatever is inside.
In addition to the community fridge, the church and the neighborhood association also have a food pantry supplied by Kroger. The food drive for the pantry happens every fourth Saturday of the month at the church. Extra perishables from the drive go towards the community refrigerator. Donated food cannot be prepared by residents and must be store bought.
The appliance and small shed that encases the fridge were donated by Detroit Community Fridge, who helped provide five other refrigerators across the city.
