Manufacturer Leverages Refrigeration Expertise for Public Good
COMMUNITY ACTION: Christopher Piotrowski, left, CEO of Barr Refrigeration, and Erik Kielisch, senior marketing manager, pack food for senior citizens at the Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin location in Appleton, Wisconsin. Barr recently expanded another aspect of its community involvement, its Coolers for a Cause program, which provides cold-storage equipment to institutions that serve the public.
OSHKOSH, Wis. — Barr Refrigeration, a manufacturer of coolers, freezers, and other commercial refrigeration equipment, has expanded its Coolers for a Cause program, a national initiative that provides cold-storage infrastructure to nonprofit, fraternal, governmental, and educational institutions across the U.S.
Recognizing the wide-ranging cold storage needs of organizations that serve the public good, from food pantries and civic lodges to public schools and municipal agencies, Barr is leveraging its expertise and the largest commercial refrigeration inventory in the world to help community institutions operate more effectively and serve more people, a press release from the company said.
“Community organizations of every kind rely on dependable cold storage to carry out their missions,” said Christopher Piotrowski, Barr’s CEO. “By expanding Coolers for a Cause, we are putting our industrial refrigeration expertise to work for the greater good, making it easier and more affordable for these institutions to get the equipment they need to serve their communities.”
Commercial refrigeration and freezer units are essential for a broad range of organizations, enabling them to safely store food, medicine, research samples, and other temperature-sensitive material. Through Coolers for a Cause, Barr Refrigeration is offering the following to eligible non-profit, fraternal, governmental, and educational institutions:
• Deep discounts: Significant cost reductions on new coolers, freezers, and commercial refrigeration units, as well as cost-effective, gently used refurbished units.
• Free consultation: Complimentary consultation services to help organizations design and implement customized cold storage solutions that meet their specific needs and goals.
• Marketing: A customizable suite of resources to help organizations with fundraising to purchase and maintain their cold storage infrastructure.
Barr Refrigeration piloted Coolers for a Cause with the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry in 2025, demonstrating how enhanced commercial cold storage capacity can strengthen community service operations, the press release said. The pantry, which is also a regional hub for The Emergency Food Assistance Program and Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, distributes more than 3 million pounds of food annually and redistributes more 700,000 pounds to nearby pantries.
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The success of the pilot program helped shape the national expansion of Coolers for a Cause to serve the full spectrum of community institutions across the country, the press release said.
Barr's commitment to supporting community organizations extends beyond boxes and equipment. On April 20, Barr Refrigeration volunteered with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin at its Appleton facility to repack and sort food for senior citizens.
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