Open Door Berkhamsted to Launch Community Fridge
Next week, Open Door launches Berkhamsted’s first ‘Community Fridge’, with the support of environmental charity Hubbub UK & Herts Community Foundation, in a growing effort to tackle food waste.
Community fridges are open to everyone in communities – without any need to be referred or having to prove eligibility – to access fresh food that would otherwise have gone to waste. The food is donated by local businesses and growers, and collected by Open Door volunteers.
Local residents are invited to come and receive a package of rescued, quality food from the Community Fridge (located outside the front of Open Door – 360-364 High Street, Berkhamsted), for the first time on 29 November between 10am-12noon, and then every Tuesday after that. As well as the Fridge, the Community Café will be open offering plentiful tea and cake as always!
Food waste is a big issue in the UK. In homes alone, the average household throws away £700 worth of food every year, whilst 4 million people in the UK are living in food poverty. This is exacerbated with the current cost of living crisis. Most food waste in the UK, including from businesses, is avoidable and could have been eaten had it been better managed.
Open Door is in good company, with other local Community Fridges in Chesham and Hemel Hempstead – there are currently over 300 fridges across the UK and counting, Hubbub have partnered with Co-op to fund 500 fridges by the end of 2023.
As well as improving access to food, Community Fridges go beyond this by empowering communities to connect with each other, and learn new skills through activities such as cookery sessions and workshops on how to grow your own fruit and veg.
Open Door is also calling all local food businesses / allotment holders in Berkhamsted and the surrounding areas to donate surplus food from.
Joan Fisher, General Manager of Open Door, said: ‘Community Fridges are a wonderful concept and we’re delighted to host the first one in Berkhamsted. All our visitors are welcome to get involved, whether by giving or receiving food or volunteering to help run the Fridge. We’re excited that the Community Fridge is just one of our food-related projects, with other events coming up such as Cook & Chat sessions, and Sunday lunches for those in the community.’
To find out more about how the Community Fridge works, or information on how you can donate, receive or volunteer, visit www.opendoorberkhamsted.co.uk/community-fridge or get in touch at communityfood@opendoorberkhamsted.co.uk.
More information on The Community Fridge Network, including a map of fridge locations and advice for those interested in setting up a community fridge can be found at www.hubbub.org.uk/communityfridgenetwork.