Three new community fridges will be installed in Howard County amid the growing need for food services.
A community fridge is a public refrigerator that provides free food, from fresh produce to packaged goods, to anyone in the community who needs it. People can anonymously take what they need and donate what they can.
On Monday, County Executive Calvin Ball announced the Pocket Food Pantry, a county and nonprofit partnership bringing three community fridges across the region. This mirrors nearby Baltimore, which has had success with its network of community fridges combating citywide food scarcity.
“Our residents need help now more than ever,” Ball said at the Monday news conference. “Government cannot do it alone.”
More than 21,000 county residents have been impacted by a suspension of federal SNAP benefits, according to Safa Hira, a county spokesperson.
The pocket food pantries will be located at the Rachell L. Gray Community Foundation in Elkridge, the Long Reach Village Center in Columbia and Heritage Realty Services in Lisbon, each sponsored by a local organization.
The county food bank and Roving Radish, a county program meant to promote healthy eating through meal kits with local produce, will provide oversight and support of the program, “providing food as requested,” Ball said.
The fridges will be stocked by local community groups and organizations and will be available at all times.
Columbia Community Care will be in charge of sponsoring the Columbia location. The Glenelg United Methodist Church will do the same for the pantry in Lisbon. The Rachell L. Gray Community Foundation is sponsoring the location at its facility.
Tracy Broccolino, president of the Community Action Council, said food insecurity is a growing crisis in Howard County.
“This project is a powerful symbol of what happens when everyone comes together,” Broccolino said. “By creating a space where neighbors can both give and take food, we are building a bridge of compassion, dignity and shared responsibility. These pocket pantries are a physical manifestation of the “no questions asked” approach that Community Action and our partners are famous for.”
In addition to the pantries, the county has taken other measures to support residents struggling due to a federal shutdown and economic uncertainty. With about 11% of the county impacted by the shutdown, Howard County and its businesses have stepped up to provide relief, through a series of shutdown specials and relief services.
On Nov. 1, there was a countywide food drive, where nearly 1,600 community members donated over 5,000 pounds of food and nonperishable items.
In September, the county announced a new resource center slated for Route 1, which will hold a 12,000-square-foot food pantry. This will be double the size of the current Howard County Food Bank in Columbia. The $8 million project is expected to be complete by late 2026 or early 2027.
The micro-food pantries will allow residents to receive food with dignity, Ball said.
“I sincerely hope that this program provides much need relief for those who need it most,” he added.
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