Community support helps keep community fridge running

The community fridge outside the Kitchener Market is up and running again. 

Organizers with Community Fridge KW posted to social media on April 30 that the fridge had stopped working and they were in need of a replacement. 

In less than five days, the group announced a working, used fridge was generously donated by a neighbour who saw the calls for help.

“Never doubt what neighbours devoted to their commitment to community care can accomplish,” wrote Kamil Ahmed with Community Fridge KW in a social media post. 

The group and volunteers acted swiftly to get the new fridge hooked up and as of the weekend, it was open again. 

While speaking with CityNews 570 on Monday, Ahmed said community support is integral to keeping the fridge stocked and running. 

“Every step of the way, it's community driven and community powered. The whole operations of Community Fridge KW are driven by the community.”

Ahmed explained they rely on donations and encourage people to take what they need and leave what they can.

“There might be times where you need to take food and then times when you can give food. And with that dynamic in mind, we invite people to participate with the fridge — whether that's donating food from a local business that they run, and some organizations donate menstrual products and pet food fairly regularly.”

Ahmed said Community Fridge KW also works with local farmers to get weekly, fresh produce donations. 

The Community Fridge KW initiative first launched in 2020 outside the former Full Circle Foods store on Charles Street, and moved to the Kitchener Market in November of 2021. It aims to provide food access to anyone that needs it, 24 hours a day and seven days a week. 

As for the future of the endeavour, Ahmed said the Kitchener Market will continue to be the Community Fridge's permanent location.

“There's no intentions of leaving the Kitchener Market, but there have been conversations with specific organizations and service providers about potentially [opening] a second community fridge location.”

Ahmed added Community Fridge KW is also working with the Kitchener Market on setting up an urban agriculture project, so community members who may not have access to green space can eventually grow their own produce and harvest it.