OXON HILL, Md. — In an effort to abate a nationwide shortage, Feed the Fridge will start giving out free baby formula Thursday to anyone in need.
Over the last two years, the Feed the Fridge initiative has served more than hundreds of thousands of free meals to people in the DMV. The mission that began during the pandemic was created to address food insecurity.
Now there are 10 refrigerators spread across the area where people can pick up a meal, no strings attached. More than 100,000 bottles of Enfamil baby formula will be distributed between the 10 fridges for free pick-up at the locations below:
- The Glassmanor Community Center, at 1101 Marcy Ave., Oxon Hill, Md.
- Latin American Youth Center, at 6200 Sheridan St., Riverdale, Md.
- Gaithersburg High School, at 101 Education Blvd., Gaithersburg, Md.
- Albert Einstein High School, at 11135 Newport Mill Rd., Kensington, Md.
- Mary’s Center, at 344 University Blvd. West, Silver Spring, Md.
- Takoma Park Community Center, at 7500 Maple Ave., Takoma Park, Md.
- Takoma Park Recreation Center, at 7315 New Hampshire Ave., in Takoma Park, Md.
- Rita Bright Family and Youth Center | LAYC, at 2500 14th St. NW, in D.C.
- Ivy City Clubhouse & Court, at 1832 Central Place NE, in D.C.
- Anacostia Community Museum, at 1901 Fort Place SE, in D.C.
"What we've done is lean on our partners in the medical community and trucking community and friends we have out of state," Mark Bucher, co-owner of Medium Rare Restaurant and founder of Feed the Fridge said. "They are buying baby formula and shipping it to us."
Bucher says there are some neighborhoods across the nation with more of an elderly population that have baby formula available.
"We're finding it, consolidating it and putting it in our fridge for the next three to four weeks until the supply chain issues ease up," Bucher said.
The free meal initiative launched its 10th location in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on Tuesday. The newest fridge sits right outside the Glassmanor Community Center in Prince George's County.
The new fridge is the result of a partnership between Adventist HealthCare and the M-NCPPC Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County. The group says the fridge will be stocked with meals prepared by local restaurant owners who are "growing their brands."
According to a press release from the Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County, this will help the residents in the Glassmanor and Forest Heights Communities, where many have to face a long, difficult and sometimes unsafe walk to the nearest grocery store.