LONG BEACH (CBSLA): It’s nothing you see, one or any of the days, a more important friend in the middle of a pandemic: a refrigerator on the streets of Long Beither, plugged in and full of food.
The refrigerator, with encouraging messages, is on Fourth Street, near Cerritos Avenue, just around the street from a McDonald’s restaurant.
The organization that manages the refrigerator ensures that it is stocked with healthy foods that everyone can remove for free.
“I come in the morning and the refrigerator is practically empty, so it’s transparent that this says a lot about the will for new and loose food,” organizer Senay Kenfe said.
It also includes writings in English and Spanish such as “Take what you need, leave what you don’t have” and “This refrigerator belongs to you”. There is even a message about the requirement of a mask to open the refrigerator, but it is known if this applies.
Guidelines on the LA Community Fridge website state that if someone wants to donate a meal prepared to “take care that the person who prepared it has strictly followed the guidelines of defense and cleaning of food, such as disposable gloves” to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Similar refrigerators have been in Southern California, adding South L.A., Mid-City, Highland Park, Exposition Park and Arlington Heights.