The new communal fridge in front of Childcare Network of Evanston offers free food for anyone who needs it, no questions asked. (RoundTable photo)

Less than two weeks after a wayward truck demolished Evanston’s first communal refrigerator, a replacement has been installed just a few feet away, still at 1335 Dodge Ave.

In March, Evanston Fight for Black Lives completed the project – a place where people can donate or obtain food as they need it.

Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse donated the refrigerator as well as the replacement, and Childcare Network of Evanston remains the host.

Evanston Township High School alum Ziana Pearson-Muller painted the original fridge with bright pink swaths, drawings of food, and the words “Free Food 4 All” and “Comida Gratis” on the white refrigerator. Plain signs now offer that information.

The framework, which was unharmed in the accident, has shelf space for canned goods alongside the fridge.

Evanston Fight for Black Lives said its community fridge is “meant to provide food to those who want it, no questions asked.”

Mary Gavin is the founder of the Evanston RoundTable. After 23 years as its publisher and manager, she helped transition the RoundTable to nonprofit status in 2021. She continues to write, edit, mentor...