INDIANAPOLIS — DeAndrea Rayner decided to do something about food insecurity in her community. She placed three refrigerators in the community to help people living in food deserts. She said it's doing much more than that.
"It's completely empty. The fridge and the freezer were both full and now it's completely empty. The food goes so fast," said Rayner.
It goes fast in the Forest Manor community because some people struggle to buy food.
"I only make enough to pay for my rent and a few dollars left over. It's not enough to supply me and my basic needs. There are no stores other than that liquor store down there," said Monte Oglesby.
"It's sad, because there will be a liquor store on every corner but no grocery store. But I feel like this community needs help," said Rayner.
Rayner decided to step up. She said her family and friends thought she was crazy when she told them about her idea of putting refrigerators outdoors stocked with free, fresh food. However, the empty shelves prove she had the right idea.
"I place them specifically in food deserts, areas that have no grocery store in brown and Latin communities. The concept is to take what you need and leave what you can," said Rayner.
That's exactly what people like Oglesby did. He's visited the fridge a few times.
"It's helped and we need more of it," he said.
"I met a single mother short on her paycheck. She utilized the fridge. She told me her child didn't have to see her go to a food bank," said Rayner.
Rayner said hearing this is what keeps her going.
"I'm grateful. I don't want anything back but to help the community, feed the community," said Rayner.
The fridges are open 24 hours and volunteers stock them with food and clean them throughout the week.
The three fridges are located at 30th Street and Forest Manor Avenue, 38th Street and Post Road and at CMBC Indy at 1001 Eugene Street. For more information, visit the Indy Community Pantry website.
Rayner is also planning to open a fourth fridge in the future.