Cool to Be Kind: Empowering Bradley Food Pantry's Mission with Refrigeration Equipment and New Walk-Ins

In Neptune City, New Jersey, a small but mighty food pantry just received a game-changing upgrade—and it's all thanks to a remarkable act of generosity.

The Bradley Food Pantry, a community pillar since 1982, now boasts a brand-new commercial-grade cooler and freezer. This critical Bohn equipment was donated by Heatcraft Refrigeration Products, with Walk-in Boxes donated by Tafco. The grand re-opening took place on Thursday, May 8th, 2025.

This wasn’t just a standard donation—it was part of Heatcraft’s "Cool to Be Kind" initiative, a growing charitable program that equips food pantries and nonprofits across the U.S. with refrigeration systems to help keep communities fed and food fresh.

Heatcraft is a leading manufacturer of high-quality refrigeration products, including evaporators, condensing units, remote condensers, packaged systems, and refrigeration controls, many with the most advanced electronics available in the market today. Bohn’s donated IntelliGen Systems with remote monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities are a clear example of the technology available from Heatcraft.

Bradley Food Pantry had been operating out of a new location in Neptune City for over a year, but their old refrigeration equipment was in Asbury Park at another pantry and simply too expensive to move. That meant volunteers had to shuttle perishable food back and forth daily—a logistical nightmare and a strain on resources.

The team at Cool to Be Kind reached out to Gary LaFata of Daikin Comfort Technologies Northeast (formerly ABCO HVACR Supply + Solutions), asking him to keep an eye out for anyone in need. Not long after, Gary learned about the challenges facing the Bradley Food Pantry—and saw an opportunity to make a difference. He then contacted his primary box manufacturer Tafco to see if they could help. The result? A brand-new Tafco Cooler/Freezer Combo Walk-in, equipped with two state-of-the-art Bohn IntelliGen refrigeration systems, and all the required installation materials —an incredible donation valued at around $40,000.

Why does refrigeration matter so much? As volunteer Bob MacAllister, whose mother was the director of the pantry in the nineties, explained: “Going back to 1982, it was basically shelf-stable stuff. They didn't have the meats and produce and everything else that we have today. And that is so important to us.”

Today, Bradley Food Pantry serves over 100 people a day, six days a week, and demand has quadrupled in the past two years. With over 150 volunteers, the pantry operates like a small grocery store, allowing families to "shop" for what they need—including fresh produce, meat, dairy and frozen goods.

Executive Director Linda Curtis continues to lead the organization with heart and humility: “We serve our neighbors with dignity, compassion and respect.”

Thanks to this new equipment, the pantry can buy and store more fresh food instead of relying heavily on shelf-stable items. As one volunteer put it, “The more we save on refrigeration, the more food we can buy.”

"This pantry does a great work feeding families in need and today we are there for them,” said Pete Grasso, Head of Marketing Communications & Technical Training at​ Heatcraft.

Tafco, which manufactures walk-in coolers and freezers, stepped up when asked if they’d consider donating a box not just one, but a cooler-freezer combo box, after finding out from Gary the pantry needed both.

Sam Wiser from Tafco summed it up well: “We’re excited to help the community and our fellow partners in the industry, to share some of the products that we offer.”

The Cool to Be Kind initiative has legs. As Gary LaFata from Daikin Comfort Technologies Northeast notes, “The hardest part for them is to find people and organizations that need the equipment. But as they make inroads with people like Linda and places like this pantry, they’re going to find others.”

Want to support the Bradley Food Pantry?
Visit bradleyfoodpantry.org to learn more, donate, or get involved.

Follow Heatcraft’s Cool to Be Kind journey on Facebook for updates from communities across the country.

Tafco walk-ins are an industry standard in cold storage, whatever your unique needs are, and they prioritize outstanding service and support. https://tafcowalkins.com/

Daikin Comfort Technologies Northeast is proud to carry Bohn/Heatcraft refrigeration equipment and Tafco Walk-ins.

To learn more, contact your Daikin Northeast Refrigeration Team.