As prices for many grocery staples soar, many Americans are turning to food pantries and community fridges to make ends meet. As Wisconsin Public Radio reported, the surging prices are fueling the need for more volunteers to keep pace with demand.
But luckily, there are organizations that make it easy to save money on food, and you don't even need to leave your home to do it.
The scoop
As WPR noted, grocery prices are up 3% across the Midwest compared to the same time last year, according to the Consumer Price Index. That's why Kelsey Lutzow co-founded The Fridge in Green Bay, which is open 24/7 and provides people in need with all the basics, including fresh produce.
Not only is this a great solution to help communities reduce the stress of rising food costs, but it also reduces food waste by keeping perishable items fresh that might otherwise be thrown away. The United States wastes about 30-40% of food supplies, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, yet sticker shock keeps getting worse at supermarkets.
TCD Picks » Martie
💡Martie makes it easy to find quality food at massive discounts while helping to fight food waste
TJ Hobbs, a co-founder of Hope Fridge, said that their volunteers have to restock fridges multiple times per day to keep up with demand, and the food is often gone in hours or even minutes.
Lutzow told the news outlet: "The everyday dollar and SNAP benefits just aren't stretching as far as they used to, and it's tough."
But the online grocery store Martie, which offers shelf-stable pantry goods, snacks, and household essentials, can help you save up to 80% on brand-name goods, since it sources overstock and surplus items from other brands and ships them directly to customers. By shopping with Martie, you're also helping address the major global problem of food waste, which is the single largest component of landfill waste.
How it's helping
Visiting community fridges or shopping online with Martie are both great ways to help the planet by keeping food out of landfills while saving massively on groceries. If you're looking for a fridge near you, the Fridge Finder app and Freedge are free resources that include maps to make your search easy.
Stay warm all winter long with the Apple of intelligent space heaters Kelvin is the Apple of space heaters, designed for energy efficiency and maximum comfort. It's completely silent and intelligently controlled, with setup taking just 5 minutes. Built from premium materials like aluminum and glass, Kelvin works beautifully as a full-home heating system or as the perfect solution for that one room that never feels warm enough. |
Other ways to cut down on grocery bills include hacks such as reusing leftovers, making lists before you shop, and storing food at the proper temperature so it lasts longer.
What everyone's saying
Community fridges are popping up everywhere, and they're not just helping people put food on the table — they also help people come together and build connections.
|
What's your primary motivation in shopping at thrift stores?
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. |
Cheaper clothes 🤑 "It's just a really good way for neighbors to look after each other, especially in hard times," Lutzow told WPR's "Wisconsin Today."
"For families that are right in that point of living paycheck to paycheck, it's just needing a little bit of extra help to make those ends meet," he added.
💰Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices — and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club.
Cool Picks
