Meet Hersh's Fridge: the nation’s first kosher, outdoor, community fridge, open 24/7, for anyone in need to take or share food. Community fridges have sprouted up all over the U.S., but never before (as far as we know) has there been a kosher fridge – providing kosher leftovers and storebought staples for those in need, accessible at all times.
Picking up Food? | Donating Food?
Hersh’s Fridge, located in the heart of Skokie, is stocked by volunteers with fresh, perishable food.
Many families are ashamed to access food pantries or soup kitchens, due to stigma. Our fridge is outdoors and accessible 24/7 to kosher-keeping Jews – and anyone in need – ensuring they can secure food in an anonymous, dignified way.
The Fridge embodies our highest values: giving and receiving anonymously (Rambam, Hilchot Matonot Aniyim 10:7) and helping our neighbors, Jewish and not (Talmud Bavli, Gittin 61a) – a true kiddush Hashem.
Hersh’s Fridge is named for Hersh Goldberg-Polin z’’l, who was taken captive on October 7, and heroically endured 328 days of captivity before he was murdered by Hamas terrorists. Hersh changed the world through his compassion, humor, and desire to bring people together. Through this Fridge, Hersh’s values of chesed, community, and bridge-building are continuing to serve as a blessing – and a revolution – for the Chicagoland area, where his family’s roots run deep.
Picking up food?
The Fridge opened on October 30, 2025, and is now stocked regularly with food!
- The "Partner Fridge," at left (in photo), contains kosher-certified groceries & food from kosher establishments.
- The "Neighbor Fridge," at center, contains kosher-certified groceries & food from kosher homes.*
- The Pantry (at right) contains certified-kosher shelf-stable goods bearing a reliable hechsher.
Volunteers are checking daily to ensure our kashrut and hygiene standards are followed, but please always use your own judgement when picking up food.
Demand is very high, so please only take what you need and be mindful of others who are in need of food. We cannot guarantee that the fridges will always have food in them, but we are always striving to increase supply.
Want to donate or help?
Please consider donating groceries regularly! This is a great activity for kids — let them pick a few extra items each grocery trip.
• From kosher caterers / Orthodox institutions: sealed and in original packaging — place in the “Partner Fridge” (left). If it's been opened, it should be placed in the "Neighbor Fridge (at right), and you should affix a food donation label to it.
• From shomer kashrut home kitchens* may be placed in the “Neighbor Fridge.” Food must come from kitchens using hechshers and kashrut norms accepted in the Orthodox community. See our community kashrut requirements for home-cooked food. All food from home must have a filled-out info label - you can find these in the pantry cabinet at right or print one at home. Without a label, it will be discarded. If you cannot obtain a label, you may write the information in marker directly on the food container, including attesting to our kashrut policy.
All prepared food must adhere to our food safety guidelines.
Location & Leadership:
Hersh's Fridge was created by Solu, a local Orthodox Jewish volunteering organization. Solu builds bridges between the Orthodox Jewish community and diverse communities across Chicagoland, primarily through chesed (service). Learn more.
The Fridge Team includes Fridge Co-Chairs Leah Rubin & Amanda Goldstein, Solu Executive Director R' Hody Nemes, Solu Program Associate Tamara Ashman, and countless organizers and volunteers.
Solu thanks the board of Skokie Valley Agudath Jacob synagogue for generously agreeing to host the Fridge in its synagogue parking lot. However, Hersh's Fridge operates independently of Skokie Valley and is run by Solu. Solu operates Hersh's Fridge as a community project, with volunteers and donors spanning many synagogues and organizations.
For directions to the Fridge's parking lot site, see here.
---
*Home-cooked donations to this fridge operate on an honors system. Donors must attest they follow our kashrut guidelines, but Hersh’s Fridge cannot independently confirm the kashrus of any home-cooked food. If you prefer food with more oversight, check the “Partner Fridge” at left. And you can find kosher-certified groceries in both fridges!
Questions? Email [email protected].