How do I rehome these freezer bricks?

February 27, 2021 11:23 AM

I have about 75-100 of these refreezable ice packs. I've tried nextdoor, facebook and buynothing, and no one wants more than a few of them. I don't have the patience to give them out a few at a time. Any suggestions about how I can get rid of them, apart from putting them in the trash?
posted by Gorgik to Home & Garden (15 answers total)

I’d try an organization that hands out resources to people experiencing homelessness—especially if they go out and see people where they are. My library was handing out bottled water to people this summer, and those would have been useful.
posted by sugarbomb at 11:26 AM on February 27, 2021 [8 favorites]

Is there a fishing or hunting club near you that might be interested in distributing them a few at a time to members?

Food banks/assistance programs or homeless shelters might also be able to use them.
posted by Candleman at 11:28 AM on February 27, 2021 [5 favorites]

Also, look for a mutual aid program like Food Not Bombs. They're run on a shoestring budget and give out food that requires cooling in places where they don't have electricity.
posted by Candleman at 11:32 AM on February 27, 2021 [9 favorites]

On preview, I was going to suggest Food Not Bombs. Riot Kitchen may also be worth a look. I have no idea if they want such things now.
posted by eotvos at 11:38 AM on February 27, 2021 [3 favorites]

The truly lazy way is to put them in a box, write FREE on it and leave it on a sidewalk.
posted by tristeza at 11:55 AM on February 27, 2021 [7 favorites]

Last thought - people that go to Burning Man and similar events often use that style of freezer pack. If you contact people through one of the points of contact here (assuming you're still in Seattle), they can probably find someone that will give them a good home.
posted by Candleman at 11:57 AM on February 27, 2021

I was going to suggest Free Fridge and/or fregan/dumpster-diving groups.
posted by Violet Hour at 12:06 PM on February 27, 2021 [1 favorite]

I lied - one more - check with camping oriented groups like the boy and girl scouts, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas.
posted by Candleman at 12:57 PM on February 27, 2021 [1 favorite]

Seconding finding your local mutual aid or food distribution group! In my city we have community fridges for anyone to access, and we desperately need these fridge packs. They are extremely popular and go quickly once stocked at the fridges. People need them to keep their food cold. If you can find someone in your locale who does food distribution or distributes to community fridges or local encampments, ask if they can take your bulk supply OR if they know anyone who can take the bulk supply.
posted by sweetjane at 1:02 PM on February 27, 2021 [4 favorites]

Maybe a local food bank will take them depending on if they store cold food onsite.
posted by kschang at 2:21 PM on February 27, 2021 [2 favorites]

If the above suggestions don't work or don't appeal to you, I would make it someone else's problem. Offer them out again and tell the person that if they want any, 1-75, then they can take them all and do what they want with the ones they don't want.

I am on the other side of the country from where you are listed, but for what it is worth, I would take them all. I do think there is someone out there who would take them. They store at room temp just fine.
posted by AugustWest at 2:52 PM on February 27, 2021

thrift store?
posted by aetg at 6:00 PM on February 27, 2021

I use the Craigslist free section to get rid of stuff. I have gotten rid of far weirder stuff than those.
posted by Slinga at 8:14 PM on February 27, 2021 [1 favorite]

I use a whole animal meat butchery delivery service because i live in a city and dont have more than one fridge/freezer. They started in the pandemic but their model has evolved, but currently the deliveries come in reusable/returnable bins with freezer packs. they always make a big deal about people returning the freezer packs. they clearly pay for them and many people see them as disposable - is there a butcher shop/delivery service you could reach out to about accepting them all at once?
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 6:25 AM on February 28, 2021

Response by poster: Thanks for all the ideas! I tried a few food banks and the local mutual aid group, and they weren't interested. I'm waiting to hear from some organizations working with people who are unhoused, one already rejected the offer.

But I'm friends with the owner of a small chocolate store, and she uses them for shipping and for people who buy in the summer, and they said they'd take all of the ones that I didn't find a place for. I didn't think about that until processing all these answers.
posted by Gorgik at 6:33 AM on March 1, 2021 [2 favorites]