kirie | key | キリ

Nestled between North Oakland and Berkeley, across the street from the Malcolm X Elementary School is the Ellis Street Community Fridge and Pantry. 🌸🍋 The fridge is open 24/7, and welcomes walks of all life to visit, safe to eat food portioned and packaged as well as dry pantry goods and hygiene items. If you have a connection that is able to donate prepared food and divert produce from the landfill, please get in touch!

It was an honor to stumble upon the opportunity to paint this fridge. Thank you to everyone to help make it happen - the Le and Silverstein family, Franny, neighbors, residents, people in transit, school faculty, mutual aid groups, our vulnerable populations who we need to look out for, literally anyone who has made contact with the fridge or was simply passing by. Each conversation I’ve had with folks filled my heart with joy, and my hope is that this fridge equally nourishes people’s hearts and tummies with happiness and nutrients that they need. 💕🙏🏼

1 in 4 children at Malcolm X Elementary School struggles with food insecurity. Many government sponsored programs such as SNAP were (and still are) under threat this past year, leaving millions of households in a state of uncertainty as to whether or not they would have enough or any funds at all to put on the table. Community fridges and pantries are one of many ways to circumvent where the system doesn’t serve its people. If you’re curious about how to start your own or how to get involved with a fridge, please do not hesitate to reach out! 🌼

The concept was inspired by the children who painted the fridge’s shelter, the funk of Berkeley, the lemon trees that provide us shade and fruit and the vibrant daisies found along many sidewalks. 💕 these are all indications that when we all play a part in a world we live in. when we can take care of each other and our environments in small sustainable ways, everyday can feel like Spring.

As always, I am more than happy to offer my support and art for mutual aid and community centered purposes! Looking for the next fridge to spruce up! 💕

#communityfridge #freefood #comidagratis #oakland #mutualaid #malcolmx #communityart