SAVE Chico Community Fridge COMMUNITY REFRIGERATOR FROM EVICTION!

 

THE CHICO COMMUNITY FRIDGE IS IN DANGER OF LOSING ITS RIGHT TO RUN IN CITY LOCATION. WE MUST ACT NOW TO ENSURE THAT THE CHICO FRIDGE BE ALLOWED TO KEEP ITS CURRENT LOCATION AND CONTINUE ITS VITAL WORK OF FEEDING HUNGRY BUTTE COUNTY FAMILIES WITHOUT DELAY. WE URGE BUTTE COUNTY & LANDLORDS TO COME TO THE TABLE AND ENGAGE IN OPEN DIALOGUE TO FIND A SOLUTION. GET BUTTE COUNTY TO SEE US AS VITAL RESOURCE TOGETHER, WE CAN WORK TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR LOCATION AND OF THE WIDER COMMUNITY FRIDGE MOVEMENT. NO COMMUNITY FRIDGE SHOULD BE AT RISK OF LOSING ITS LOCATION ON A MOMENT’S NOTICE.  

The chico Community Refrigerator is an outdoor refrigerator and pantry providing Butte county residence in need with 24/7 access to fresh produce and nonperishable essentials. The fridge was started by local familys in response to witnessing food insecurity among students and families.after the fires the Largest California wildfires Eight of the 10 largest wildfires in California history have occurred in the last five years.

Red bars show fires from the last five years

AUGUST COMPLEX (2020)

1,032,648

DIXIE (2021)

963,309

MENDOCINO COMPLEX (2018)

459,123

SCU LIGHTNING COMPLEX (2020)

396,624

CREEK (2020)

379,895

LNU LIGHTNING COMPLEX (2020)

363,220

NORTH COMPLEX (2020)

318,935

RUSH (2012)

315,577

THOMAS (2017)

281,893

CEDAR (2003)

273,246

Note: The Rush fire burned 271,911 acres in CA, and 43,666 in NV.

Source: Cal Fire

Community has massively grown chico community Fridge has played a vital role in feeding a community ravaged by the fire then the pandemic -- a community where more than 1 in 4 residents is considered food insecure. We are a community that has a lot of unhoused.

Our humble fridge currently sits in a Alley parking lot 1432 hemlock Street. This location was strategically chosen to meet the needs of the greatest number of hungry families. We are located near Chapman town and down town we a few blocks from the pallet shelter, schools, religious places of gathering, and thousands of apartments- most of which are public housing. Our ability to reach families in need is incredible.food from the fridge goes directly into the hands of hungry family fully-stocked fridge is emptied in 45 minutes.  

 

 

However, THIS week we received word from the city we need to get a administration use permit and tried to change the city code that we have only a few months to figure out the administration use permit is $1,700 or we will get notice to remove the fridge and pantry from Butte county.or else it will be removed for us. In hopes to foster open dialogue to address any issues of concern, we have requested a meeting with the city of Chico. However our community loves the fridge we need to show Butte county how the relationship between the fridge and the community.

 

 

Any move would seriously reduce our ability to reach and feed hungry families...and would be a major setback for our movement. Butte county, this is not an issue affecting chico community Fridge alone. Many of the more than 100 community refrigerators through out our nation have dealt with threats of eviction, and some have been forced to find a new host or shut down and removed. 

 

 

No community would ever tolerate a food pantry or non-profit losing its building on a moment's notice. It is JUST AS UNACCEPTABLE for community refrigerators to live with the threat of eviction at any moment.  

 

 

Removing chico community Fridge from its current location would also represent a major blow to the spirit of COMMUNITY. It's already been removed from pine street where alote of people were dependent on Our humble fridge empowers the community in an area where residents have often felt voiceless and neglected. We are stocked by local nonprofits and businesses and cleaned and maintained by local students and families. Just today, 

 

Volunteers from all walks of life and across state lines have stepped up for the community to design flyers and logos, to clean the fridge, help unload/stock, take photos and videos, and use their personal cars to pick up food to bring to the fridge. All of this- the entire movement- is done uncompensated, with no reimbursement, in the name of community, humanity and the belief that no one in America should go hungry or feel ashamed about asking for help. As we often say, the entire movement is powered by NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS.  

Please sign this petition now and allow Butte county to run chico community Fridge to continue its vital work in serving an underserved community during a time of unprecedented need. Make sure that this life-saving work is not put on pause for even one day. Urge Butte county to come to the table and engage in open dialogue to find a solution. Show them how much support we have for our movement -- powered by nothing but neighborly love. Be the change we so desperately need.