Littlehampton Community Fridge trials full opening after lockdown

Volunteers had to change the way the system worked, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, but are now attempting to go back to normal.

The trial re-opening started on Saturday, when the community fridge was open 11am to 12.30pm at St James the Great Church hall, East Ham Road, Littlehampton.

People are able to take five items plus bread, per adult per day. Please queue 2m apart outside and take your own bag.

Donations of surplus food are also being accepted, as long as it has not been opened. No fridge, freezer or homemade items, please.

This week, the community fridge is celebrating Volunteers’ Week. Follow www.facebook.com/littlehamptoncommunityfridge for more information.

The project has been moved from Littlehampton Library and in recent weeks has been running a delivery service, working with Citzens Advice to get more than 100 food parcels a week to those who need them most.

Hannah Millard, volunteer co-ordinator, said: “We normally have a team of volunteers within Littlehampton Library, however, since the library closed, we have had to relocate. This has also seen us change the way we are operating, to adapt to meet the needs of the community.

“We have an amazing team of volunteers who collect surplus food from various places and then create food parcels, which are then delivered to those in need within our community.”

Since the initial trials in July last year, followed by the official opening in October, the project has grown from one fridge-freezer in the library to five fridges and four freezers.

Volunteers have been able to provide more than 700 parcels since the UK government’s lockdown restrictions came into force on March 23.

Sarah Renfrey, founder, said: “I’m so grateful to have such an amazing volunteer team, it is thanks to their enthusiasm and genuine dedication to the ever-evolving project. I am so humbled by how much we have achieved in the past ten months.

“Whilst there are support mechanisms in place for those in crisis and the most vulnerable in the community, there are also many other people who are struggling for various reasons to access food, and we are happy to provide what we can to those who need it.”

The fridge has saved more than 17 tonnes of good food from going to landfill, the equivalent of more than 40,000 meals, and has prevented around 72 tonnes of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere.

Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/littlehampton-community-fridge

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