Decatur, GA – Medlock Park’s Free Fridge to Close at the End of August
The only remaining Free Fridge in Atlanta, located in Medlock Park, will close on August 31, 2024. This closure marks the end of a community project that first began in 2020 and had once expanded to six locations, including East Atlanta and Clarkston. Those other sites were shut down in 2022.
The Free Fridge concept was initiated to provide 24-hour access to food for people in need, eliminating the need to go through cumbersome bureaucratic processes. The Medlock Park Free Fridge, hosted by North Decatur Presbyterian Church, managed to stay open longer than others largely because of the dedication and support of passionate volunteers.
In an Instagram post, the Free Fridge organizers expressed their gratitude for the community’s contributions. “With a heavy heart, we announce that ATLFreeFridge will be closing its doors on Saturday, August 31, 2024,” the post read. “We deeply appreciate the incredible individuals and businesses that supported us. Your contributions made a significant impact in fighting food insecurity and spreading kindness. We recognize this closure will leave a gap in services, especially for our unhoused neighbors, but also for home-health workers bringing food to their clients, parents with big families, the underemployed, laborers, elderly people, and local students. We are trying not to think of the closure as a failure, but instead, focusing on the positive changes we’ve made together over the years. Thank you for being a vital part of this mission.”
Controversies and Concerns
Despite its success, the Free Fridge faced criticisms and controversies. The fridge attracted many homeless people who required more services than it could provide, leading to discussions about security concerns and complaints about waste and food debris in nearby neighborhoods. North Decatur Presbyterian leadership engaged with neighbors to address these issues.
Rev. David Lewicki, the church pastor, explained in a letter that while the Church Session — the governing elders of the church — “provisionally” approved the fridge’s operations through September, this was conditional upon meeting specific requirements like improved security and better waste management. “The Church Session believes that the Fridge is an effective mutual aid model for the problem of food insecurity,” the letter stated. “However, the Session understands that unless the safety and sanitation issues can be satisfactorily resolved, and trust begins to be restored, the Fridge must either be relocated or closed.”
Lewicki confirmed that neighborhood concerns were a significant factor in the decision to close the fridge, mentioning that complaints and legitimate concerns about the struggles brought by some of the unhoused individuals led to this outcome. “I think it’s pretty well documented at this point on Facebook and such, people who are unhoused sometimes bring with them a whole set of struggles and those struggles were a legitimate concern for businesses and neighbors,” he said.
Future Considerations
The team behind ATL Free Fridge is now considering future steps, including potentially converting the Free Fridge into a more traditional food pantry. “That’ll be up to the leadership team of the ATL Free Fridge,” said Lewicki. “They’re the ones who made the whole thing work. I think they’re going to sit and talk. I don’t know if they’ll have the energy. They need to take time to reflect on it.”
News of the fridge’s closure was met with sadness and a strong desire to help from community members, as shown by comments on the Instagram post. In his letter, Rev. Lewicki also emphasized the need for more governmental assistance to address the needs of people using the fridge. “The Church has contacted Commissioners Michelle Long Spears and Ted Terry to ask for DeKalb County’s help in addressing the issues of unhoused neighbors,” he wrote. “We strongly encourage neighbors to communicate your concerns and hopes with our elected county officials.”
The community’s involvement has always been crucial in maintaining the Free Fridge, making its closure a significant event for many. As they wrap up operations, the organizers and volunteers will undoubtedly reflect on the positive impact they’ve made over the years and consider new avenues to continue their mission of fighting food insecurity.
