We began our financial partnership with Open Collective in 2023, opening the door for our first-ever recurring donors. Our collective donations this year from both recurring and one-time financial donors totaled $3,699.59, of which $3,047.43 has already been used to buy food and pantry donations for the Weber Fridge to benefit our immediate community.

These donations not only allowed us to supplement the community's food donations at the fridge with additional groceries, but also allowed us to supply additional hydration during summer months in the form of water, Gatorade, and hydration packets. $273.05, or 7%, of our received donations went to materials, including cleaning supplies and flyers hung at local businesses. 

This year was one of immense growth for the Weber Fridge. The community fridge launched at the end of November 2022, so 2023 was a year of spreading awareness in the community, encouraging those community members with the ability to donate at the fridge, and seeing an increasing need and desire for community-based food resources like this one. 

The biggest challenge we faced is the ability to keep up with the demand for free, truly accessible food. One of the most powerful things we learned this year is how much more impactful the community fridge can be when we partner with other, like-minded food resources in our community. Those kinds of partnerships have expanded awareness of the fridge to increase donations from local farmers, gardeners, and small businesses in a way that we never anticipated.

As we celebrate our one year birthday for the Weber Fridge and look ahead to 2024, we hope to remind the community that the Weber Fridge is still here and that the need is greater than ever. Whereas last year at this time our primary goal was awareness, our goal at the end of 2023 and heading into 2024 is sustainability. Sustainable practices for the community fridge might mean increasing the amount of recurring donors so we can anticipate how much we can spend each month on groceries, building a relationship with the community where they feel empowered to help throw out trash and wipe down the fridge when it needs it, and strengthening relationships we started to build in 2023 with other food resources so that the Weber Fridge is one of the first options that come to mind when someone is wondering how they can give back to the Ogden community.

We wish we could directly pass on every thank you that we receive via social media or in person at the fridge. All of your contributions to the Weber Fridge - financial, in the form of food, and in hands-on help - have a direct impact on your Ogden neighbors. Thank you for your support in 2023, and your continued mutual aid in 2024! 🩷