Recently the Highland Public Library started a Community Fridge and Cupboard program; an idea spearheaded by Library employee Samantha Bacchi. In the library lobby there is a refrigerator for produce and perishable items and next to it are shelves to hold dry goods and personal items that are all free to the public. There is also a suggestion box where people can voice their opinions or request specific items. The Community Fridge program made its debut in mid July.

 

Bacchi drew upon her background in Social Work and Sociology to create the program.

 

“I try to explore how I can combine my work into supporting the community in new and different ways,” she said, adding that this program, “at its core involves mutual aid, which is providing a direct way for neighbors to support one another; something that is very important to me.”  

 

Bacchi said creating the program was achievable, “and using my position at the Library seemed like I was in a good position to make it happen.”  

 

The refrigerator was donated in March through Jamie Lovato, Executive Director of Fareground Food & Community in Beacon. They are a charitable 501(c)(3) women-run food justice, anti-hunger organization dedicated to nourishing the community by operating free marketplaces, community fridges, tiny food pantries and other programs to distribute fresh and prepared foods.

 

Bacchi is thankful to Laughing Fork Farm and Indian Ridge Farm, both in Highland, that continue to donate produce to the Program.

 

“We put out calls and it has been going really well so far. Sometimes we get some donations that fill the fridge and the pantry but in a day or two it’s basically empty, so I think the need is there and people are using it,” Bacchi said.

 

Several times a day Bacchi checks on items that come in to make sure they are safe for the public.

 

“I check if anything is new, I check expiration dates and I check for quality,” she said. “I have different forms that break down food safety and the quality of cans on what dents are OK and what dents are unsafe. If there is anything corroded we have things to refer to that point us in the right direction.”

 

Bacchi said the program, “is definitely making me very happy to see that people are using it as a way for them to obtain food and personal care items that doesn’t involve barriers or stigma associated with it because that can be challenging; so that is what feels best.”

 

Bacchi said there is no paperwork to fill out or documents the public has to provide in order to access food and other items.

 

“There is none of that here; you can just walk in and take what you need,” she said. “Anyone can give or take from it and we hope that everyone can keep our goals in mind that the purpose is to alleviate food insecurity and to reduce food waste, but also to build bonds between community members. We hope they will take what they need and leave what they can for others.”  

 

Bacchi said that people can come anytime when the Library is open.

 

Library Director Julie Kelsall-Dempsey credits Bacchi for creating such a needed program and fully supports her efforts.

 

“I think it’s a great idea. After Community Action closed in Highland I know there was a need for it in this community,” she said. “The churches do what they can but they are there only one day a week, whereas we are here every day we’re open.

 

She said there are many local farms in our area that provide fresh produce for the program.

 

“This community has always been overwhelming when it comes to food and clothing drives or anything else we’ve done. They are very helpful in that regard and do whatever they can to help others out. It’s a great thing about this community,” she said.

 

Alleviating food insecurity has always been a priority for Ulster County Legislator Gina Hansut [R-Dist. 10]. She is a frequent visitor to the Library, “a couple of times a week for different programs; I take advantage of them.” She spotted their flier for the Community Refrigerator Program just as it was getting started. Last year she got produce donated by Ricky Auchmoody, owner of Indian Ridge Farm, for the Community Action pop-ups that distributed food to those in need and to food pantries.

 

“So I asked Samantha would you like some vegetables and she said absolutely and then I called Ricky and he delivered them to the library and he has been doing that on a regular basis,” Hansut said. “It just shows what a small community can do.”

 

Hansut believes this is really a grassroots effort by the library and other organizations want to get involved, such as the boy scouts and the girl scouts, “to help add to it and they even came up with the idea for a dinner, where you buy all of the ingredients and put it all together so a family will have a full meal; so it’s going to grow. We have a great community and they have really stepped up to drop off donations to support the program.”

 

For more information on the Community Fridge and Cupboard program go to www.highlandlibrary.org and on the home page click on Community and a drop-down menu will lead you to more details on the program and how you can help.