The borough’s first-ever ‘Community fridges’ are now open in Bexleyheath and Belvedere thanks to the support of environmental charity Hubbub UK and the Council.
Staff and volunteers at Bostall Community Library in Bexleyheath and Belvedere Community Centre are working with local food businesses, supermarkets and allotment holders to collect quality food that would otherwise be wasted.
During opening hours, anyone can help themselves to items from the fridge for free. The fridges also accept donations from the public.
Items accepted include unopened packaged foods, cheese, table sauces, pastry, pasteurised milk and yogurt, fruit juices, salads and fresh fruit, vegetables and eggs with the British Lion mark and date.
The fridge at Belvedere Community Centre is open from 10am to 12 noon every Tuesday.
Bostall Community Library’s fridge is open on Monday 9.45am to 12.30pm, Tuesday 1.15pm to 4.30pm, Thursday and Friday 9.45am to 4.30pm and Saturday 9.45am to 1.30pm.
The new fridges are also helping to put residents in touch with other healthy eating initiatives, including free cooking workshops and how to claim Healthy Start vouchers – a Government scheme which provides free vouchers for eligible families to buy fruit, vegetables and milk.
Cabinet Member for Communities Councillor Alex Sawyer said: “This is great example of people coming together and giving up their time to help others, which I am delighted to celebrate and support as part of our Connected Communities initiative.
“The staff and volunteers at both these sites have worked tirelessly over the last year to open the borough’s first-ever community fridges. We’re proud to have played a small part in helping the teams to take action on food waste, by connecting like-minded local people and organisations.”
The world’s first Community Fridge Network was set up in 2017 by environmental charity Hubbub. It provides free advice and support to any group running a Community Fridge already or wanting to set up a new one.
For more information about the Community Fridge Network, including a map of all fridge locations in the UK, visit www.hubbub.org.uk/communityfridgenetwork