Karen McMillin stood at the front of New Jehovah MB Baptist Church on Sunday, June 28, and welcomed guests to the newest addition to a volunteer-run food network she pitched to the Community of Congregations board in March 2025.

The outdoor pantry at 1101 S. Austin Blvd. is the sixth location for the Community Fridge Project, a program of the Oak Park and River Forest nonprofit Community of Congregations. It's also the second site in Chicago's Austin neighborhood, extending a network that started with a single refrigerator and McMillin's unanimous board approval 15 months ago.

The concept is straightforward: outdoor fridges and pantry shelves stocked by volunteers, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. No ID required. No cost. No questions asked.

Four of the six locations sit in Oak Park: Grace Episcopal Church (924 Lake St.), Edwin Gale House (124 Kenilworth Ave.), 607 Harvard St., and United Lutheran Church (409 Greenfield St.). The two Austin locations are A House in Austin (533 N. Pine Ave.) and the new site at New Jehovah MB Baptist Church.

The project operates with zero paid staff. McMillin, who serves as founder and lead organizer, coordinates day-to-day operations, volunteer scheduling, and partnerships across both communities. She said more than 90 regular volunteers stock, clean, and maintain the fridges, and she estimates several hundred people have been served across the six sites since the project began.

"It's a simple, human way to care for our neighbors," McMillin said. "These fridges provide immediate relief to individuals and families who may not qualify for or feel comfortable accessing traditional food assistance."

Eleven community partners support the effort, according to the project's website. The list includes Dark Matter Coffee, Publican Quality Bread Oak Park, Oak Park School District 97, Alcuin Montessori School, and Austin Harvest, among others. A six-member advisory team meets monthly to guide strategy.

Acceptable donations include extra groceries, nonperishable pantry staples, unopened to-go meals, and health and personal care essentials. Oak Park residents interested in volunteering can email [email protected] or visit communityfridgeproject.org for information on food donations and monetary support.