Learn About Us
What we’re up to:
Coming soon— A community kitchen in Northside.
A space for sharing, bulk prepping, and distributing meals to community fridges around Richmond, VA.
Northside Community Kitchen:
You can sign up to shop on the day that works for you ANYTIME.
You will need a Cash App or Venmo for us to send you $50 to use to buy whatever you would like to stock the fridges/pantries with.
You can message us on our #foodnetwork discord channel in our bio, or email us at rvafridgeoutreach@gmail.com to let us know on the day when you plan on shopping to receive funds for that day!
Daily Shoppers Program:
About us:
Established in Jan. 2021, Taylor launched Virginia’s first community fridge, shout out Venable St. and the Pomona Plants fam that gave us our first big break, now where the Fat Rabbits fam habitat! Over the years, we have added 16 more fridges to our network located in the beautiful city of Richmond, Virginia as well as help grow other community fridge networks in other counties of VA and beyond our borders!
Past.
It all started with too many tomatoes and an indoor hydroponic garden that Taylor calls ‘Patience’. She had grew an abundant harvest of tomatoes that she couldn’t even keep up with herself. She was fresh out of college, barely cooked herself and neither were most of her friends, though she was determined to find someone or where who’d want them instead of throwing them away. One of her friends mentioned dropping them off to her nearest community fridge since they both had grown up with them in New Orleans, Louisiana and so the search began. Taylor’s research resulted in learning about the freedge.org world wide community fridge map and that there were no community fridges in Virginia. This pushed her to decide to put the first one up right here in Richmond, Virginia in Church Hill!
Present.
From the first RVA Community Fridge being put up on January 28th 2021, the Fridge Fam was born, and MANY RVA Community Fridges have followed! Over the years we have grown together as a community and state to help one another when needed most whether that’s daily needs, local water crisis, or even government SNAP/EBT pauses, the fridge fam is always there for each other! We have been so grateful to be able to meet new fam and cook with you all regularly for community cook days!
Future.
We are often asked about our 5-10 year plans and goals for the fridge fam, and we always say, ‘whatever the fam needs and wants to do!’ We are powered by the community and are always going to be here FOR our community! Right now we are looking forward to the awesomeness to come over the next 3 years as we put on fun events for the fam at Northside Community Kitchen.
FAQs
Yes, we are! Send us an email if you need our EIN or further details!
1
Are you a 501c3?
When do you stock the fridges?
Our fridges are stocked by our volunteers periodically throughout the day depending on volunteer availability and the availability of donated food. Any person or group is also able to donate to a fridge at any time so there is no way for us to know precisely when the next donation drop will be. For the most up to date information on donations from our team, we suggest joining our Discord, Airtable, or following our Instagram @rvacommunityfridges.
2
Do you host corporate volunteering events?
3
Not at this time, though feel free to organize your own volunteering event for your group. Many groups choose to clean fridges together, host their own cook days then distribute prepared meals to the fridges, or host their food drive!
Can a representative come to our event?
4
We are entirely volunteer run so our capacity for external events is limited. If you have any speaking requests for Taylor specifically, she can be emailed at vacommunityfridges@gmail.com.
How do I set up/host a fridge at my place of business?
5
We determine fridge locations within the RVA Community Fridges network based on community feedback and a specific voting process. However, we encourage people to start their own community fridge even if it is not listed in our network and are happy to help you navigate best practices to get you started! We also have a “How to Set Up a Community Fridge” zine with helpful tips and tricks for your reference!
Meet the Chief Executive Officer
HELLO FRIDGE FAM!!
It is always so nice to meet you all!
My name is Taylor Scott, I’m the Founder behind your local RVA Community Fridges, and our homebase Northside Community Kitchen. I’m a transplant to Virginia myself, as I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, I am of Seminole and Cherokee descent, the one and only older sister and auntie in my immediate family, and have just hit my 10 years here in Richmond with you all fam! I have a loving family here with my boyfriend, his service German shepherd Sirius, and my parkour red foot tortoise, Serrano hahaha and ofcourse what would I do without the awesome admin team that helps keep the fridges running. I moved to Richmond thinking I’d be the Director of FBI one day, and it’s crazy beautiful to see how different my journey has turned out to be where I can better serve my community. I have been so honored and grateful to have the privilege to know and grow with you all over these years, and I am ecstatic to see where we take the RVA Community Fridges, Northside Community Kitchen and our community together as we continue! 5 years down, and MANY MORE with the fridge fam to go!!!