Friday's parting shots

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Trinity Lower East Side (hello to Pastor Will above!) on Avenue B at Ninth Street is hosting its annual Blessing of the Animals on Sunday.

There will be a mass at 11 a.m. ... and a "brief" blessing in the garden afterward...

The Loisaida CommUnity Fridge on 9th and B needs a new home — here's why

Photo and reporting by Stacie Joy 

On the heels of our story that the 12th Street and First Avenue East Village Neighbors Community Fridge at S’MAC was being forced to close, we received word from Trinity Lutheran Parish that the Loisaida CommUnity Fridge and Pantry at Ninth Street and Avenue B also needs to shutter. 

I spoke to Pastor Will Kroeze from Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish about the situation. 

"Over the winter, we received violations from the Department of Health because of an increased number of rodents in and around our garden where the fridge is located, which jeopardizes our ability to fulfill our primary mission — to serve the community through our daily free lunch and food pantry," he said. "It is imperative that we maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene so that we can do this work, as we are regularly inspected by the Department of Health and have always been proud of the high marks we receive." 

He said that the church is now seeking a new location for the fridge "so that it can continue to be a resource for our community." 

"Given that the East Village Neighbors fridge on First Avenue is no longer operating, we feel particularly strongly now that the Loisaida Community Fridge must continue on; we are seeking the community’s support in securing a new location nearby."

The fridge arrived here in June 2021.

"It's been such an honor for Trinity to host the fridge since its inception. The fridge has been a natural extension of the work we've done for over 40 years to address food insecurity in our community, and we're proud of the many thousands of pounds of food that have gone directly into the hands of those who need it the most," Pastor Will said. "The success of the fridge is a testament to the dedication of the tremendous group of community leaders and volunteers who have poured their hearts into it in service to our neighbors." 

While the CommUnity structure remains in place for now, the East Village will soon be without any community fridges. The plant-based one outside Overthrow on Bleecker Street near the Bowery is currently MIA, with an Instagram post from last December stating a new fridge was on the way.

Volunteers needed for the Loisaida CommUnity Fridge and Pantry

The organizers of the Loisaida CommUnity Fridge and Pantry are looking for volunteers to help with the effort here at Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish on Avenue B at Ninth Street. 

Via an Instagram post yesterday: 

The Loisaida CommUnity Fridge is in need of volunteers for weekly fridge maintenance and cleaning shifts, food donation pick ups, and outreach. We would love your help! 

And THANK YOU to all those who have volunteered at the Loisaida CommUnity Fridge already! We can’t succeed without you.

You can find details about volunteering at this link. 

The fridge debuted here in June.

Behold the new Loisaida CommUnity Fridge

Photos by Stacie Joy

Organizers unveiled the Loisaida CommUnity Fridge and Pantry yesterday morning at Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish on Avenue B at Ninth Street.

A group of community local residents and officials were on hand for the ceremonies... including Pastor Will from Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish and the Rev. Anne Sawyer from St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery ...

As previously reported, the nonprofit L.E.S. CommUnity Concerns is behind the launch of this 24/7 fridge and pantry. (Eleventh Street Workshop donated the refrigerator.) Per the organizers:

It will be guided by the philosophy of "take what you need, leave what you can," with the goal of providing relief to community members experiencing food insecurity, reducing food waste from local restaurants/groceries, and supplementing the non-24/7 food pantries in the area.

Organizers are also looking for local residents to help maintain the fridge and provide other types of administrative support. Find the volunteer form right here.

They are also accepting donations of fresh, healthy food, including canned goods. (Please label fresh food with date and ingredients.) Here is the form (link) for businesses/organizations to fill out if they'd like to donate any goods — either on a recurring basis or a one-time gift.

This will be the third local community fridge launched since the start of the pandemic ... joining the East Village Neighbors' Fridge and Pantry outside S'Mac on First Avenue and 12th Street and the one outside Overthrow on Bleecker Street near the Bowery. 

The Loisaida CommUnity Fridge opens tomorrow on 9th Street and Avenue B

The Loisaida CommUnity Fridge and Pantry will debut tomorrow morning at 11 at Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish on Avenue B at Ninth Street.

As previously reported, the nonprofit L.E.S. CommUnity Concerns is behind the launch of this 24/7 fridge and pantry. Per the organizers:

It will be guided by the philosophy of "take what you need, leave what you can," with the goal of providing relief to community members experiencing food insecurity, reducing food waste from local restaurants/groceries, and supplementing the non-24/7 food pantries in the area.

The organizers are also looking for local residents to help maintain the fridge and provide other types of administrative support. Find the volunteer form right here. They are also accepting donations of fresh, healthy food, including canned goods. (Please label fresh food with date and ingredients.)

Trinity's Services and Food for the Homeless (SAFH) has served meals to those in need for more than 30 years. Last September, they launched College Food Pantry, which aims to help "address food insecurity among college students of all ages and backgrounds."  

This will be the third local community fridge launched since the start of the pandemic ... joining the East Village Neighbors' Fridge and Pantry outside S'Mac on First Avenue and 12th Street and the one outside Overthrow on Bleecker Street near the Bowery.

Volunteer help wanted for the new Loisaida CommUnity Fridge and Pantry

The nonprofit L.E.S. CommUnity Concerns is helping launch a new community fridge at Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish on Avenue B at Ninth Street.

Here are more details:

We are a group of volunteers in the East Village getting ready to launch a Loisaida CommUnity Fridge and Pantry, a 24/7 Free Fridge and Pantry located outside of Trinity Lower East Side (SE corner of Avenue B and 9th Street).

The model is very similar to the East Village Neighbors' Fridge and Pantry located outside of S'Mac (12th Street and 1st Ave). It will be guided by the philosophy of "take what you need, leave what you can," with the goal of providing relief to community members experiencing food insecurity, reducing food waste from local restaurants/groceries, and supplementing the non-24/7 food pantries in the area.

We are aiming to begin offering the service to the community in the next couple of weeks, and need your help in making sure the fridge is a success. (There is no specific time commitment necessary to join the group.)

Find the volunteer form right here.

Trinity's Services and Food for the Homeless (SAFH) has served meals to those in need for more than 30 years. Last September, they launched College Food Pantry, which aims to help "address food insecurity among college students of all ages and backgrounds."