ROCKLAND — Community members have a new option for free and readily available fresh food through an expanded Help Yourself community fridge now installed in the Knox Clinic lobby, 22 White Street, in Rockland.

"This endeavor builds on the clinic's existing efforts to connect people with a wide variety of community and wellness resources," said Pen Bay YMCA Community Health Partnerships news release.

The idea for a Knox Clinic community fridge grew out of conversations between Knox Clinic and Pen Bay Community Health Partnerships (PBCHP) about opportunities to provide patients with healthy food and groceries. The clinic already offered shelf-stable foods through its Help Yourself shelf on the first floor; Access Navigator Nicole Rodriguez-Robbin shared her hope of making fresh produce available as well, including items from AIO Food Pantry and deliveries from Knox County Gleaners.

Through their partnership, Knox Clinic and PBCHP identified a refrigerator as one way to support this goal. The refrigerator was funded through Nourish ME, a program of the Maine Rural Health Transformation Grant that supports Food as Medicine strategies. PBCHP implements Nourish ME programming in Knox County, collaborating with community partners to address local needs through nutrition education, healthy eating initiatives, and improved access to nutritious food.

With the refrigerator in place, the clinic can offer a wider variety of foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, and dairy products. The addition builds on the existing Help Yourself shelf and the community partnerships that help keep food available to those who need it.

"We are so excited about the fridge and the opportunity to offer our patients and folks in the community access to fresh foods," said Rodriguez-Robbins. "Our pantry's stable, self-serve shelf already gets a lot of use. When we filled up the fridge for the first time, it was already half empty by the end of the day."

Located in the lobby of Knox Clinic, the refrigerator is stocked with free food sourced through AIO Food Pantry and Knox County Gleaners. The fridge is replenished on a weekly basis.

"PBCHP looks forward to continuing to partner with Knox Clinic on future initiatives that expand access to nutrition resources and support for the broader community," said the news release.

About PBCHP: Penobscot Bay Community Health Partnerships serves Knox and Waldo counties, collaborating with the community and local organizations to support healthier living for all ages in the state of Maine.  

About the Knox Clinic: The Knox Clinic believes everyone deserves access to quality care. The Clinic provides medical, dental, prescription assistance, counseling, and wellness services to patients from across Knox County and beyond.