Fareground Statement Regarding Beacon’s Community Fridges
Introduction
Fareground has centered our local community for the past 13 years with a mission to provide access to nourishing food. In the past few weeks, one of our programs — Beacon Community Fridges — has come under question regarding safety, maintenance, and effectiveness.
While these developments have been difficult, we believe in meeting challenges with transparency, collaboration, and care.
What Happened
Fareground has been one of the stewards of the community fridge at the Beacon Recreation Center since 2022. This followed our first fridge installation at Binnacle Books (in collaboration with Beacon 4 Black Lives and Binnacle Books) and the relocation of this fridge to a private property earlier this year to ensure continued community access. Unfortunately, this refrigerator stopped working and we (Fareground) removed it.
On September 19, 2025, Fareground was notified by the City of Beacon that we would need to discuss the status of the fridge at Beacon Recreation Center, as well as the local code cited in connection with the fridge that was relocated. This led to Fareground setting up a meeting with the City of Beacon to discuss the matter. Just a few hours before our scheduled meeting, the fridge at the Beacon Recreation Center was removed, without notice, due to the City of Beacon’s concerns about cleanliness.
Acknowledgment and Accountability
Fareground acknowledges that, while many volunteers and neighbors worked hard to maintain these spaces, the fridges may have gone a few days without care or attention. We recognize that better systems and daily care are required for fridges that align with our mission and vision for food access.
We are committed to developing new maintenance practices, training volunteer teams, and adhering to City codes.
We hope to partner with community-based hosts to re-establish safe, sustainable, and accessible community fridges on private property.
As stewards of this service, we take responsibility to evolve a Community Fridge program to meet high standards of care as we do with all of our work.
Moving Forward
We know how deeply our community has felt the loss of these fridges. Many of you have reached out to share how these resources made a difference in your lives— how they provided stability, dignity, and nourishment.
Our focus now is on the evolution of the Beacon Community Fridge program — learning and building a stronger, safer version that our community can rely on once again. We understand the need for 24/7 access to fresh and nutritious food and are committed to this goal.
A Call for Collaboration
This next chapter requires all of us.
Fareground is currently seeking collaborators who would like to learn about what it may take to host a community fridge.
We invite you to join our Beacon Community Fridge/Pantry Care Team. Our first meeting is Fri, 10/24, 7pm at 50 Liberty Street, Beacon after our Free Community Dinner.
We know that collaboration, rooted in transparency and shared goals, is the way forward. Please join us!
Gratitude and Reflection
We extend our gratitude to the City of Beacon and its officials for their continued support of Fareground’s mission. We thank the Beacon Recreation Center team and the many volunteers who stocked, cleaned, and cared for the fridges. Your dedication embodies the spirit of this city.
We are equally thankful to our fellow local nonprofits, advocates, and neighbors who have stepped up during this moment — reminding us that our strength lies in collective care. And, we extend gratitude to local businesses who have contributed to the community refrigerators.
Fareground was founded on the belief that access to food is a fundamental right. As food insecurity continues to rise across the Hudson Valley, our commitment to ensuring food access remains unwavering. Together, we will bring this vital service back — safer, stronger, and rooted in community.
In Solidarity,
The Fareground Team
Food + Community
Want to get involved with Beacon Community Fridges and Pantries?
Beacon Fridge/Pantry Care Team Meeting
Friday, 10/24, 7pm (Come early the community dinner first!)
50 Liberty Street, Beacon