Looking to give back? Chicago’s bright- colored refrigerators are a good place to start

Risa and Eric Von Haynes started the Love Fridge back in 2020 to help people during the pandemic. The mutual aid organization’s motto is “Take what you need, leave what you can.” (Mariah Rush/Sun-Times)

On the 6300 block of South Morgan Street, Chicagoans of all walks of life can find and depend on the colorful Englewood Love Fridge. The South Side community refrigerator is placed inside an inviting boxed structure that has the words “Free Food” painted in bright pink letters at the top.

There are 26 refrigerators like this available throughout Chicago (most that are accessible 24/7), thanks to Eric and Risa Von Haynes’ mutual aid organization Love Fridge, which has the motto of “Take what you need, leave what you can.” But this specific fridge in Englewood has something special to cheer about — it is the first to be “off-grid” and powered exclusively by solar panels.