Grace Free Community Fridge

05/28/2026

Wow, wow, wow! What great sales there are this weekend! The Community Fridge is empty more often than it is full, so help us fill it and maybe even have some back stock to replenish it. Consider purchasing things on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and then putting them in the pantry or fridge later in the week. Sandwich Club meets on Friday but that food will be gone by Saturday.

High-need items from this list are eggs, tuna, hot dogs, pork chops (the meat department will wrap them 2 or 4 to a pack at no extra cost), sandwich bread, tortillas, baby carrots, canned pasta dinners, pot pies, and soups.

We can also package tuna, boxed pasta dinners, canned sloppy Joe seasoning, canned tomatoes, beans, cake mixes, and skillet dinners (like Hamburger Helper and Tuna Helper) into meal kits if you leave them in the church office or kitchen and mark them "free fridge." We keep a supply of pre-measured dry milk and margarine on hand to make these a complete dinner.

Luxury items are spices, ketchup, mustard, canned or fresh fruit, and tea bags.

As always, thank you so much for helping our neighbors. With kids home for the summer, food goes quickly. If you see any other good sales, please let us know.

05/21/2026

T'is the time of year for graduation parties, school banquets, family gatherings, and holiday celebrations. Remember that if you have un-served leftovers, they can be repackaged for the Grace Free Community Fridge. This was donated by the Roosevelt Cross-Country Team year-end banquet: buns, pulled pork, brisket, shredded barbecue chicken, salads, mac and cheese, and a few other items. It was repackaged from steam pans into to-go containers so individuals could take manageable portions. (These containers can be purchased at Aldi and other grocery stores and are also available at GraceDesMoines during church office hours.) Many healthy meals were placed in the refrigerator at about 9:30 Thursday night and were gone by early Friday afternoon. Thank you Roosevelt girls! (The steam pan was egg rolls donated by a local business and put directly into the fridge.)

05/04/2026

If you are planting a vegetable garden this year, consider adding a few extra rows so you can donate produce to the Grace Free Community Fridge. Our food-insecure neighbors would love garden-fresh veggies and excess fruits from your trees and bushes.

01/04/2026

Packaged mixes make easy meals, but they're even better if all the ingredients are included! Boxed mac and cheese or "helper" meals aren't too tasty when made with nothing but water. If you are able, package together dry milk, margarine, and other ingredients needed for the mix so the meal is complete.

To make this efficient, place 1/3 c. dry milk in a small snack or sandwich bag. Include directions to add 1 c. water. (We do have some pre-packed milks at the church if you need them.) Place the margarine in another small baggie and place all items in a larger bag. It's a full meal to go!

•For mac and cheese, add 1/3 c dry milk and 1/2 stick of margarine.

•Tuna helper mixes require two cans of tuna, 1/2 stick margarine, and two packages of dry milk (enough to make 2 cups.)

•Stovetop stuffing mixes generally require just 1/2 stick of margarine.

•Cans of beans, tomatoes, and a packet of chili seasoning make a fast and easy tummy-warming chili dinner. Other soups can be packaged the same way. Be sure to add a recipe and label the bag.

Check the labels on various brands as directions vary. Any mixes with margarine will need to be refrigerated.

Many thanks for your continued donations. You have helped feed many people in our neighborhood.

01/01/2026

2025 was an amazing year for the Grace Free Community Fridge, thanks to all of you. It has grown in both need and donations. We thank all of you who have participated by taking what you need and giving what you can. Blessings to all of you.

12/27/2025

Except for a few loaves of bread, the pantry is bare! If you are able to donate to the Grace Free Community Fridge, please do so. Three people stopped by in 5 minutes so we know the need is great. Each took only one loaf of bread.

12/23/2025

Merry Christmas from the Grace Free Community Fridge committee! We have grown so much in the past year and it warms our hearts to see so many people sharing with our neighbors. To those we serve, we extend these holiday blessings and hope to serve you even better in the future.

12/02/2025

'Tis the time of year for holiday gatherings with family, friends, and coworkers. Before you head to an event, consider grabbing a few disposable meal containers to make meals for the Grace Free Community Fridge. It's a great way to avoid bringing those calorie-laden goodies home and also bring happiness to our neighbors. Pack up both meals and holiday goodies in zipper-lock bags or disposable food storage containers. For an extra special treat, add some teabags or packets of hot chocolate.

We do ask donors to follow our safety rules:
•Package foods directly from serving dishes. Once it has been plated and served, we cannot pass it on.
•Make sure the food has been properly stored. It should not be left at temps between 40º and 140º for more than two hours.
•Use clean, sealable containers. It is best if the food can be seen through the sides or lids. In other words, avoid using margarine, whipped topping, and similar containers. (This keeps people from opening it to see what is inside and possibly contaminating it.)
•If it isn't instantly recognizable, please label the contents and make note if there are any common allergens such as nuts. For example, people can easily recognize cookies, crackers, and veggies but sandwiches and casseroles are harder to identify so would need a label.
•No alcohol.

Thank you for your continued generosity.

11/29/2025

The Grace Free Community Fridge group is so impressed with how our neighborhood and local businesses keep adding to the table. What a great place to live. We are so thankful for all of you, both those who share and those who need.

One more thought for Thanksgiving: Mixed media art by Jennifer Bloomer (Radici Studios, San Francisco).

11/12/2025

Resource reminder: At DMPL we have community fridges at four of our library locations. These fridges are open to all library patrons in need of assistance. Find a fridge: https://www.dmpl.org/dmpl-community-fridges

Anyone can donate fresh produce, bread, pasta, grains, and non-expired dairy products, pre-packaged or individually wrapped items, and standard pantry items.

Each community fridge has slightly different donation guidelines based on space and community need.

11/09/2025

How did I not know about this? One 14-oz can would be perfect for packaging with Hamburger Helper, soup makings, Manwich, or taco ingredients.