A Fridge Full of Potential: How Healthy Eating Is Nourishing Metro Chicago Kids & Communities

At the Barreto Boys & Girls Club in Humboldt Park, Chicago, a fridge full of fresh produce is doing more than keeping food cold, it’s opening doors to healthier lifestyles, stronger communities and brighter futures for kids.

This is the Feel Good Fridge program, a national partnership between Maytag and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. At the Barreto Clubhouse, part of Union League Boy & Girls Clubs, it’s become a hub for healthy habits and family wellness. The impact? Far-reaching — changing kids’ minds, mealtimes and aspirations.

A Recipe for Success: Nourishing the Humboldt Park Community

Hector Perez, senior vice president at Union League Boys & Girls Clubs, once wasn’t a fan of broccoli, until Club youth and staff served him a homemade soup.

“I finished my bowl and someone said, ‘So, you don’t like broccoli? Guess what? You just ate broccoli soup,’” he laughs. “It was delicious.”

Many kids and teens at the Club had also only ever seen broccoli on grocery store shelves. But once it became more readily available through the Feel Good Fridge, that changed. Launched in 2021, the Feel Good Fridge program directly addresses food insecurity by providing Boys & Girls Clubs with refrigerators and funds to keep them stocked with fresh, nutritious produce for Club kids and their families.

“When we talk about healthy eating with kids, they embrace that message and take it home. Now we see families trying these new foods. They come back and share how they’ve prepared it — not just with butter, but in soups,” says Hector.

The Barreto Club has served the Humboldt Park neighborhood for more than 60 years. Recently, it’s welcomed many newly arrived families, including those in shelters — some facing daily challenges accessing nutritious meals.

“For some of these children, receiving adequate nutrition in the morning can be a challenge. They may arrive at school after breakfast service ends,” says Hector. “Or they may not care for what’s for lunch, which means that they may only eat once a day. This is a significant issue at some of our sites, especially at the Barreto Club.”

That’s why access to fresh food matters. According to Senior Club Director Jeremy Murphy, fresh produce in the area is both costly and increasingly out of reach.

“In our community, and Greater Chicago, fresh produce is very expensive, and costs are on the rise. The Feel Good Fridge helps us meet families where they are. It supports wellness, saves families money, and reinforces the healthy habits we teach in our programs,” Jeremy explains.

Across the country, over 60 Feel Good Fridges have been placed in Boys & Girls Clubs. Each one is stocked regularly in partnership with grocery stores, restaurants and community organizations, serving anywhere from 30 to over 100 families per day.

Putting Healthy Habits into Action

At Boys & Girls Clubs, programs are guided by three key pillars: academic success, healthy lifestyles, and character and citizenship. The Feel Good Fridge namely supports healthy lifestyles though its impact is noticed across all pillars as nutrition can impact a child’s health, concentration, development and overall well-being.

The Barreto Club has witnessed that impact in real time over the past year. Candy has been swapped for apples as an afternoon snack. Hot dog contests replaced by grape-eating challenges. Smoothie-making sessions led by members of the Club’s SMART Girls healthy lifestyles program have become a hit, boosting nutrition, creativity and confidence.

“Kids learn about making healthy choices, but it really clicks when they see and taste it,” says Jeremy. “Understanding the ‘why’ behind those choices helps them form lifelong habits.”

The results? Youth are more focused, engaged and confident — especially in their mental well-being and participation in Club afterschool and summer programs.

“Proper nutrition impacts everything,” Jeremy notes. “I’ve seen the difference in focus, mood and motivation. Some kids have even planned healthy meals at our Club and successfully prepared them for their parents at home.”

Cooking Up New Possibilities for Teen Empowerment

For some youth, the fridge has done more than fuel healthy habits; it’s sparked career curiosity.

“We’re seeing more interest in culinary careers,” says Hector. “Some teens want to cook for Club events. We’re exploring ways to turn this into a workforce development opportunity.”

Nelly’s, a local Hispanic restaurant the Club community often patronizes, offered two chefs to run the Club’s summer day camp culinary activities following a Feel Good Fridge event.

One teen in the Club’s Keystone leadership program was even inspired to raise awareness around nutrition after learning about how diet affects her diabetic relative. Her passion has since galvanized a group of teens to create nutrition educational content, lead outreach and advocate for community-wide change.

“They are incredibly ambitious about creating a buzz around healthy eating and healthy lifestyles to help prevent similar situations in the community,” says Jeremy.

When it comes to future programming at the Barreto Club and the broader Humboldt Park community, the fridge is providing a lot of food for thought — and positive growth.

“Teens at other Boys & Girls Clubs want to duplicate what Barreto is doing,” says Hector. “They want to know how to get a fridge, help their families and understand how the program works.”

A Healthy Movement That’s Growing

The Feel Good Fridge has inspired the Humboldt Park community to grow closer. Organizations like the Puerto Rican Cultural Center reached out immediately to see how they could support and leverage this resource. Flyers and social media posts are also helping spread the world and bring in more families.

“The fridge draws youth in and opens the door to so many opportunities,” says Jeremy. “Beyond that, the whole concept of combatting food insecurity in our area has resonated with our community; people are asking how they can help our Club staff feel more supported in this effort.”

“Support from, Maytag helps us provide more than meals,” Jeremy continues. “It helps us empower the next generation. If you care about kids and teens in your community, getting involved with your local Boys & Girls Club is one of the best ways to make a difference.”