Community
fridge on
City island
BY JASON COHEN
As people are struggling to
fi nd food due to COVID-19, community
fridges are popping up in
low-income places like Mott Haven.
However, middle class neighborhoods
like City Island are
hurting as well. Recognizing
this, City Island resident Ariadna
Phillips of the South Bronx Mutual
Aid Network helped install
the Anchor Fridge on City Island
Ave. and Schofi eld St. in December
2020.
She spoke about the fridge
at the Jan. 14 City Island Rising
meeting.
“When the pandemic hit it became
clear we need to do more to
fi ll in the gaps,” Phillips said.
Phillips, who has been an educator
in Mott Haven since 2003,
saw the devastation the coronavirus
caused. She and her colleagues
began doing food giveaways,
but soon realized there
had to be more of an effi cient way
to help people.
She noticed some of her
friends were launching community
fridges in the south Bronx
and it dawned on her that she
could do the same for City Island.
According to Phillips, the
fridge has been a huge success
and made a difference.
“We defi nitely have people
that have benefi tted from using
it,” she explained. “It’s been
a wonderful oasis knowing that
there are neighbors caring for
neighbors.”
Phillips is always looking for
volunteers to help restock the
fridge and donate food.
Visit us in Co-Op City
500 Baychester Ave (@ Baychester & Bartow)
Contact Theresa Whittick at (347) 964-3237,
theresaann.whittick@td.com,
or visit tdbank.com/smallbusiness.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 14 AN. 22-28, 2021
The community fridge on City Island. Photo courtesy of John Doyle
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We’re here for you, too.
Unexpectedly Human
Member FDIC, TD Bank, N.A.
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