On Tuesday, 4th December, Wallingford Community Fridge will open its doors. The Community Fridge will be situated at The Fountain Bookshop, 21b-22a St Mary’s Street and will be open Tuesday – Friday 9.30 am – 4.30 pm and Saturday 9.30 am – 1.00 pm.
Community Fridges are communal places where surplus food is shared between people in a community, by local businesses and individuals. It is estimated that the average UK family wastes £810 a year by throwing away food and drink which could have been eaten by others. In addition up to £3 billion is wasted by food sectors. Despite growing awareness of food waste, there are few easy ways for people or businesses to get food near its ‘sell by’ date to others.
Alongside the desire to better share our resources and reduce our detrimental environmental impact, it is hoped that the Community Fridge would provide another life-line for those who are in need. Wallingford Community Fridge Coordinator, Tracey Lloyd-Jones says ‘I am really excited about this venture and would encourage anyone and everyone to come and be a part of what we are trying to achieve.’ The Community Fridge is therefore looking for people to bring (and take) fresh food, particularly fruit and vegetables (sorry, no meat or fish), as well as volunteers able and willing to sustain the service.
Wallingford Community Fridge is being launched by Ridgeway Community Church and is proud to be supported by Oxfordshire County Council (who have provided help with initial costs), Sustainable Wallingford, Waitrose (who have agreed to provide food through Fare Share), along with Wallingford Emergency Food Bank (who have agreed to provide produce specifically for those in need).