Community fridge launches in West End

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This article was published 05/10/2022 (1265 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A community fridge has launched in the West End.

The pilot project was founded by a grassroots collective of Winnipeggers who are in the process of planning similar fridges for other areas of the city. The fridge is maintained by volunteers and stocked through community donations of fresh fruit and vegetables, eggs, frozen meat and seafood, sealed non-alcoholic beverages, dried goods, canned goods, bread and pastries, baby formula and meals cooked in commercial kitchens or restaurants. Everything must be in original packaging, sealed and labelled with ingredients and the expiration date.

“This is a way of making community needs and wants free and accessible. Through community fridges and cabinets, anyone has access to what they made need, whenever they may need it, completely free,” the Winnipeg community fridge Facebook page said. “Many of our community members in Winnipeg are living with food insecurity, which has substantial and negative impacts on quality of life. We want the people in our communities to know they are loved and supported.”

The group is also accepting donations of hand sanitizer and personal protective equipment (masks and gloves), hygiene products, individually packaged eating utensils and pet food. They are not accepting donations of raw meat or seafood, expired food or moldy produce, unsealed or half-eaten foods, home-cooked meals, dented cans/damaged packages and alcohol.

The community fridge is located near 689 Maryland St., in a lane between the Maryland Tot Lot and MacDonald Youth Services.

For more information about the Winnipeg community fridge, visit www.facebook.com/winnipegcommunityfridge