Written by the Sarasota CAP Team

What began as a simple idea two and a half years ago became a powerful reality this week, as the first Community Fridge in Newtown was officially unveiled with a ribbon‑cutting ceremony. What started as a dream, sparked by listening to community needs, has grown into a shared commitment to resilience, dignity, and care for one another.

For the Sarasota Community Adaptation Program (CAP) team, this moment represents years of collaboration with the nonprofit arm of the Sarasota Housing Authority to reimagine how we could serve the Newtown community in a way that was both creative and community‑led. Newtown is widely recognized as a food desert, with no grocery stores within a two‑ to three‑mile radius. For residents without reliable transportation, access to fresh, healthy food can feel out of reach. While one refrigerator alone cannot solve food insecurity, it can open a door, offering another way for neighbors to support neighbors and meet immediate needs with dignity.

So, what exactly is a community fridge? Much like the little free libraries that dot neighborhoods, a community fridge is a publicly accessible refrigerator located in a shared space. It operates 24/7 and allows anyone to anonymously donate or take food at no cost. There are no forms, no questions, and no barriers, just food, freely given and freely shared.

At its heart, the community fridge model is built on trust and mutual aid. Anyone can take what they need, without registering or proving eligibility, helping to remove the stigma often associated with traditional food assistance. These fridges are intentionally placed in areas with high food insecurity to provide immediate access to nourishing options. They are sustained by a “take what you need, leave what you can” philosophy, supported by residents, local businesses, farmers, and food rescue organizations working together to reduce waste and strengthen community ties.

What makes the Newtown Community Fridge truly special is how it will be sustained, through the partnerships and relationships built over many years. This project is a collective effort, supported by the Department of Health in Sarasota, Children’s First, the Newtown Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), local churches, food rescue organizations, farmers, gleaners, and many others who have stepped forward to take ownership of its success. The excitement surrounding this collaboration is a testament to what’s possible when a community comes together with a shared purpose.

The fridge itself is thoughtfully located on Sarasota Housing Authority property, home to more than 300 residents. Positioned along a main road, directly across from a park and a convenience store, it sits in the path of everyday life, accessible, visible, and welcoming to foot traffic. Thanks to generous donations from neighbors, the Department of Health, and Midwest Food Bank, the fridge and accompanying side pantries were stocked to overflowing on day one, offering a tangible glimpse of what this resource can become.

Perhaps most inspiring of all was seeing teenagers from the housing authority properties step in to help, stocking shelves, lending hands, and claiming the space as their own. Their involvement made it clear: this fridge doesn’t just belong to an organization or a program. It belongs to Newtown.

This community fridge may be small in size, but its impact lies in what it represents, a commitment to resilience, shared responsibility, and the belief that everyone deserves access to healthy food, right where they live.