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THE FRIENDLY FRIDGE NETWORK INC
SCARSDALE, NY · EIN 873763967 · Form 990EZ · FY2025 · NTEE P12 · Human Services · Micro (<$100K) · thefriendlyfridgenetwork.org
revenue
$22K
expenses
$13K
net assets
$21K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

ORGANIZATION CONNECTS COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS WITH FOOD RESCUE REDISTRIBUTION EFFORTS TO FILL STRATEGICALLY LOCATED REFRIGERATORS AND FREEZERS WITH FREE AND NUTRITIOUS PERISHABLE FOOD.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Friendly Fridge Network operates a decentralized network of community fridges and freezers in New York, Connecticut, and surrounding areas, providing free perishable food to those in need. The organization was founded in 2020 by high school students during the pandemic and relies on volunteers and community partnerships to stock and maintain its units. It serves food-insecure individuals through strategically placed refrigerators and freezers in public spaces.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Friendly Freezer
Community freezer units that store frozen food items for public access, often co-located with Friendly Fridge units
Friendly Fridge
Community refrigerator units placed in public spaces to provide free perishable food to anyone in need, accessible 24/7
Friendly Holidays
Seasonal initiative distributing holiday meals and food packages during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter
Friendly Pantry
Non-perishable food pantry offering shelf-stable goods, often located alongside fridge and freezer units
Snacks for Students
Program placing food in schools to support students facing food insecurity, with units at elementary and high schools
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Flexible Grants to Grassroots Organizations 1 activity
    • Funding community fridge infrastructure and operations via microgrants
      Provides microgrants to support the purchase of refrigeration units and cover ongoing electricity costs for community fridge initiatives, enabling local groups to establish and sustain food access points.
  • Child & Youth Meal Programs 1 activity
    • Operating "Snacks for Students" programs in schools
      Runs "Snacks for Students" programs providing food access to students at multiple elementary, middle, and high schools in Port Chester, Stamford, and Greenwich, placing community freezers and snack distribution points within school facilities.
  • Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
    • Operating a network of community fridges and freezers
      Installs, maintains, and operates a network of community-accessible refrigerators and freezers in New York, Connecticut, and surrounding areas, stocked with free and nutritious perishable food. Locations include public schools, churches, community centers, and housing developments across multiple counties.
  • Community Event-Based Giving Programs 1 activity
    • Organizing holiday food distribution events
      Hosts and co-hosts seasonal food distribution events, particularly around Thanksgiving and holidays, delivering prepared meals, turkeys, sides, and meal kits to community organizations, NYCHA residents, and partner sites across Westchester County, NYC, and southwestern Connecticut. Events have provided thousands of meals annually, including family-sized servings and packaged dinners.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$22K
Contributions & grants$22K100%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$13K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$25K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$21K
4 years on record · 2022–2025 · YoY revenue +385.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 2
  • JOIE JAGER-HYMAN — Director
  • MARIANNE MACRAE — Director
relationships · 29

Who they work with

  • Castle Church Partner — Hosts a Friendly Fridge, Freezer, Pantry, and holiday distribution site in Port Chester
  • Freedge Partner — Partner organization providing in-depth guides for starting a community fridge.
  • Gini's House Partner — Hosts a Friendly Freezer location
  • Gotham Food Pantry Partner — Co-hosted a holiday food distribution event at NYCHA.
  • Gotham Food Pantry Partner — Partnered with The Friendly Fridge Network to deliver holiday meals to NYCHA residents.
  • Hamilton Elementary School Partner — Hosts a Friendly Freezer location
  • Hart Magnet Elementary School Partner — Hosts a Friendly Freezer location
  • JCCA Pleasantville Cottage School Partner — New partner organization receiving meal distribution during the 2024 Thanksgiving event.
  • Jewish Family Services Partner — Hosts a Friendly Freezer location
  • King Street Elementary School Partner — Hosts a Snacks for Students program
  • Local deli in Crown Heights Partner — Provided power and physical space for the first Friendly Fridge in Brooklyn
  • Neighborhood artists Partner — Decorated the first Friendly Fridge in Crown Heights, Brooklyn
  • Neighbors Link Partner — Hosts a Friendly Freezer location
  • New York City Housing Authority Partner — Collaborated with The Friendly Fridge Network to distribute holiday meals to its residents.
  • Port Chester High School Partner — Hosts a Snacks for Students program
  • Rippowam Middle School Partner — Hosts a Friendly Freezer location
  • Sid Jacobson JCC Partner — Hosts two Friendly Freezer locations
  • St. Ignatius School Partner — Hosts a Friendly Freezer location
  • St. Paul's Church Partner — Hosts a Friendly Freezer location
  • St. Raphael Partner — Hosts a Friendly Fridge location
  • The Carver Center Partner — Hosts a Friendly Fridge and Friendly Freezer location
  • The Heights Partner — Hosts a Friendly Fridge location
  • The Lehman House Partner — Hosts a Friendly Fridge location
  • Thomas Edison Elementary School Partner — Hosts a Snacks for Students program
  • WJCS Partner — New partner organization receiving meal distribution during the 2024 Thanksgiving event.
  • Westchester Reform Temple Partner — Collaborated on a Thanksgiving food distribution event.
  • Westchester Reform Temple Partner — Partnered to organize and deliver holiday meals through a sponsored event.
  • Westhill High School Partner — Hosts a Friendly Fridge and Snacks for Students program
  • White Plains Hospital Family Health Center Partner — New partner organization receiving meal distribution during the 2024 Thanksgiving event.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Community-Led Mutual Aid Model
    methodology: mutual_aid
    By operating food distribution through community fridges managed via mutual aid and local ownership, the organization increases access and sustainability because residents are empowered as both givers and receivers, fostering collective responsibility and reducing dependency on centralized systems.
  • No-Questions-Asked Access to Reduce Stigma
    methodology: stigma-reduction
    By providing food through a no-questions-asked approach at community fridges, the organization increases dignity and utilization because individuals can access resources without judgment, surveillance, or bureaucratic barriers.
  • Youth Empowerment Through Student-Led Distribution
    methodology: student_led_initiative
    By using a student-led and youth-driven model to run food justice initiatives, the organization builds long-term community capacity because young leaders develop ownership of local solutions, increasing engagement and intergenerational impact.