10/30/2025
With food stamp benefits set to be reduced amid the federal government shutdown, one Indianapolis woman is stepping up her efforts to make sure no one in her community goes hungry.
DeAndrea Rayner — widely known as “The Fridge Lady” — runs the Indy Community Pantry, a grassroots network of outdoor community fridges placed around the city where anyone can take what they need, no questions asked.
Rayner first started the initiative five years ago with just $250 and a single refrigerator. Today, her project has grown to include seven fridges across Indianapolis, providing thousands of Hoosiers with free access to groceries, milk, eggs, meats, and other essentials.
But now, with SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits expected to be delayed or cut, Rayner says the demand has never been higher.
“With SNAP being cut off next month, the community fridges get emptied out within five minutes,” Rayner posted. “It breaks my heart that this is the current state.”
Despite the challenges, she remains determined.
“With or without food stamps, I’m going to make sure y’all eat,” she wrote in another post, listing one of her fridge locations at 2851 Madison Avenue.
Major companies like DoorDash, Trader Joe’s, and Kroger have stepped up to support her cause in recent years — but much of the operation still relies on everyday donations and community support. Rayner has urged Indianapolis residents to chip in through $indycommunitypantry on Cash App, reminding followers that “every dollar makes a difference.”
Her motivation is deeply personal.
“My mother was a single mom with six kids,” Rayner told Fox59. “I always look at it like — if this refrigerator was around when I was a kid growing up on 28th and Harding, it would’ve helped my mother so much.”
Through her work, Rayner has fed more than 53,000 people in Indianapolis — a testament to what community care looks like when systems fall short.
***The Indy Community Pantry needs your help now more than ever. Learn how you can support their mission to keep these fridges stocked — details in the comments.