Do-gooder spotlight: Soul & Smoke free fridge
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The new community fridge near Soul & Smoke in Evanston. Photo: Courtesy of Soul & Smoke
Most Chicago diners know Evanston's Soul & Smoke for great brisket. But the celebrated barbecue restaurant also serves up great acts of generosity.
The good: Soul & Smoke owners D'Andre Carter and Heather Bublick operate in Evanston's Fifth Ward, where they started serving free community meals during the pandemic to address neighborhood hunger.
- In 2022, they shifted their food distribution to a "community fridge" placed in front of the restaurant at 1601 Payne St., where people can grab what they need at any time of day.
The latest: This summer, their small fridge couldn't handle the heat and needs of Evanston's community fridge program, so Bublick searched for something bigger and more powerful.
- Enter Chicago-based food-service supply company Boelter, which donated a commercial fridge, with a little dent in the back, that works just fine.
- Through chef Sarah Stegner, the nonprofit Chicago Chefs Cook has pledged to keep the fridge stocked through September and October with food from local restaurants on top of community donations.
What they're saying: "People from all over the community fill it daily with fresh food, fresh vegetables and their leftover meals," Bublick tells Axios, noting that her restaurant puts all its leftovers in the fridge each night. "We just ask that they label and date the donations."
You can help by: Bringing food donations to the fridge or donating dough at the Evanston Community Fridges site.