Newton Food Pantry will be closed on Wednesday June 19, 2024 and Thursday June 20, 2024

Newton Community freedge: Open 24/7

Based on the operating principle of “take what you need, leave what you can.”

The Newton Community freedge is open all day, every day at 420 Watertown Street. This volunteer-led initiative, organized by the Newton Food Pantry in collaboration with other local organizations,  joins a growing network of free refrigerators in the Greater Boston area and throughout the country.

To serve roughly 15 freedge shoppers per hour, an uncountable number of volunteers from 13 community organizations pick up weekly donations from more than 25 business partners.

Need food? It’s Free!

The freedge is located at 420 Watertown Street in the parking lot of Central Drapery and Dry Cleaning in Nonantum. The freedge has milk, eggs, produce, bread, rice, pasta, beans, peanut butter, prepared foods and much more! Please take ONLY what you need today and leave the rest for your neighbors. Learn more by viewing our multilingual freedge flyer.

How to Help

Donate Food

On average, 15 shoppers per hour visit the freedge for supplemental food and personal care items. It takes a village to fulfill this community demand. Individuals, families, and businesses are welcome to donate fresh and non-perishable food as well as supplies such as diapers and hygiene items. You can drop off donations any time, day or night. Please review the freedge Donation Guidelines prior to donating.

Support the freedge Financially 

The Newton Community freedge Collaborative, an initiative led by the Newton Food Pantry, spends over $4,000 per month to keep the freedge running and stocked. The freedge can use your financial support to help pay for the cost of electricity, trash collection, and to purchase staples for the refrigerator and pantry! To help keep the freedge going, donate here.

Start a Volunteer Team

Volunteer teams keep the freedge clean and stocked!  Rally the troops and start your own team. An overview of team responsibilities can be found here. Contact the Newton Community freedge Volunteer Coordinator via our Contact page to get started.

Join a Community Partner Volunteer Team

Looking for a team to join? Be sure to check out our current list of community partners who are always looking for new members! Reach out to us via our Contact page to connect with any of the Community Partners below:

  • Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
  • The Fessenden School
  • Grace Church
  • Myrtle Baptist Church
  • NewCity Church
  • Newton Centre Minyan Association
  • Newton Food Pantry
  • Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors
  • Rotary Club of Newton
  • Parish of the Good Shepherd, Waban
  • Temple Emanuel
  • Temple Shalom

Become a Business Partner

The partners below are providing food and supplies to our neighbors in need. Contact us to find out how to join them in supporting the Newton Community Freedge!

  • Antoine’s Pastry
  • Baramor
  • Blacker’s Bakeshop
  • Bluebird Bar
  • Bocca Bella
  • Cabot’s
  • Central Drapery and Dry Cleaning
  • Chickadee Spice Co
  • Clover Food Lab
  • da LaPosta
  • Dignity Matters
  • Dunn-Gaherins
  • Farm Grill
  • Feast & Fettle
  • Food Not Bombs – Waltham
  • Food Rescue US – Boston
  • Food To Your Table
  • Gilman, Guidelli & Bellow Builders
  • Give a Cake Bakery
  • Great Harvest Bread Company
  • Hope and Comfort
  • Inna’s Kitchen
  • Jill Coull creative
  • Johnny’s Luncheonette
  • Land’s Sake Farm
  • LPC Electric
  • Moldova
  • National Lumber
  • New England Soup Factory
  • Newton Community Farm
  • Newton Food Pantry
  • Olivia’s Bistro
  • Pon de Joy
  • R.P. Marzilli Landscape Contractors
  • Rosenfeld’s Bagels
  • SALT Patisserie
  • Sandwich Works
  • Stone L’Oven
  • Sweet Tomatoes Pizza, Newton Centre
  • Tatte Bakery & Cafe, Newton Centre
  • Thistle and Leek
  • Trader Joe’s, Needham
  • Village Bank
  • Wegmans
  • Whole Foods Market, Four Corners

Be sure to join the freedge’s Facebook group and follow the freedge on Instagram to find out what’s happening with the freedge and see what’s inside!

Thank you to our host, business partners, community partners and funders.

The freedge is one of the best things you all have done! Sometimes I can skip coming to the Newton Food Pantry and just grab the few things I need to make it through the month.

Newton community member & freedge client

Newton freedge • Open 24/7 • 420 Watertown Street