While scrolling through Facebook last weekend, Krista came upon Uptown Fridge. She reached out to Jesse Wright, the man who traverses our city along with a fridge on his back, to find out all the “deets”.
(Photo credit to James Wilson Fine Art Photography https://www.facebook.com/JamesWilsonFineArtPhotography)
How the Mission Began
Jesse explained that the story is really everyone else’s story, if that makes sense. Jesse explained it started because he didn’t know what to do about the food security issues in Saint John. He felt like he had to do something, but didn’t know what specifically to do. Jesse knew there were other groups operating within the city, so he decided that he could make a deeper impact (instead of trying to branch out and learn a ton of new skills and information and metrics and directions) if he just drew attention to the people that were already doing that.
The story of turning the fridge into a backpack was kind of a joke about Jesse getting free groceries but evolved into getting other people groceries who actually needed it. Since then, it’s really been a tale of everyone else in Saint John really putting their dollars behind what Uptown Fridge is about.
Community Involvement
Jesse has a friend (Katelin Dean) who headlined her comedy show at Wasted Day earlier this year to support Uptown Fridge.
Glass Roots on Canterbury Street and Jesse teamed up to make shamrock ornaments for St. Patrick’s Day. Jesse walked around all day with his fridge on his back and between the shop and him selling them on foot, raised over $2,500.
Jesse tells us that the more he keeps walking around, the more people who already have ideas and structures in place reach out and ask him what he is doing and why. They ask “Do you want to be involved in this walk? Do you want to be involved in this show? Do you want to come speak at this? Would you like to do a performance here?” Jesses humbly says he is the least important part of Uptown Fridge. He says as long as he keep getting out with the fridge, there are many inspiring people who tell me what the next step should be.
In the beginning …
The official beginning, the first time Uptown Fridge walked was September 12th of 2025, but the idea was on the back burner for about a year and a half. A friend and Jesse thought of it in late 2023, and then in 2024 another friend was actually getting rid of a fridge. Jesse took the fridge and then the first friend gave Jesse a backpack. He bolted the fridge to the backpack and history was made!
Now
To date, Uptown Fridge has raised $8,200, and the goal is to either raise $10,000 or to walk 1,000 kilometres, but at the rate that they are oing, they are going to get to $10,000 very quickly. The next step is getting the business registered as an actual charity so as a charity Uptown Fridge can start giving people tax receipts. That will be a the major step.
When Jesse started Uptown Fridge he says “Iit was kind of, it wasn’t a joke, but I didn’t expect anything to happen”. Look at it now! Jesse says “If I were to stop doing anything with it, then it would be a huge waste of community interest and motivation”.
So far Uptown Fridge has walked about 420 kilometers. On May 23, Jesses will take part in Rompin’ Rockwood (25K). Then at the end of May he will be at the Port City Beer Run (5K). Jesse says at this point, he is signing up for almost everything – the more opportunites the better.
But there’s more …
The secondary function of Uptown Fridge is supporting and promoting local business. The Uptown Fridge has a “sponsor wall”. Any local business that has stickers or magnets or any sort of promotional material, if they donate $100 to the cause, the sticker goes on the fridge. Then anywhere the fridge shows up in photos or media, then the sponsors are showing up as well. Someone gave Jesse $100 and then he put the Canadian National Soccer Team logo on there. Jesse jokes that it’s not like anyone fom the Canadian National Team reached out, but someone said, “Hey, we’re Canadian. And so, you know, just put this on.”
Where does the money go?
To as many organizations and groups as possible. Jesse explains the recipient list grows as he makes more connections. It all started with Pulse because Jesse lives in the South End. He met with Lisa and Mary from Pulse and says they arere two incredible ladies who really set him on the path to understanding what it takes to get these community efforts rolling.
The group that really set Uptown Friday off was Operation Feed. Jesse saw one of their pamphlets at the Aquatic Centre and anyone who has seen the brochures that Operation Feed puts out, or if they’ve seen any of these statistics from the Human Development Council, the poverty in New Brunswick compared to Canada, and then the poverty in Saint John compared to New Brunswick – when you get lower, it’s almost block by block. A peron living at St. James and Britain is going hungry while someone at Duke and Wentworth is eating fine. The facts about food poverty right here at home are staggering.
Uptown Fridge has also donated to West Side food bank, the North End Food Bank and will visit the East Side one soon. Last month $1000 was donated to Operation Feed and $1000 to the Saint John Community Food Basket.
Best way to sum this up!
Krista: Jesse, I think you are a hero.
Jesse: I don’t feel that way. I feel like it’s a civic duty just as a regular person in society to be looking out for people. if you feel you need help or if you’re vulnerable,you shouldn’t feel stigmatized. You should be able to reach out to the people that can help you. And then if you aren’t in any need, then perhaps you can help by finding somebody who does and finding a way that you can provide it.
How can Saint John support the Uptown Fridge?
Website: https://uptownfridge.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatswiththefridge/
Etransfer: whatswiththefridge@gmail.com
Honk when you see the Uptown Fridge! Uptown Fridge will accept me cash. Jesse told us he has actually been quite surprised at the number of people who will pull over on a road or on a highway or somewhere to give him $20!
