‘We care about people’: Hamilton group opens outdoor community fridge
When Jacqueline Cantar saw community fridges popping up around Toronto last year, they immediately knew a similar initiative was needed in Hamilton.
So with help from Community Fridges Toronto, Cantar and a handful of other volunteers got together and formed Community Fridges HamOnt.
Now, after months of making connections in the community, finding a location and constructing a winterized pantry and shelter, Hamilton's first community fridge is open.
Located at 44 Greendale Drive, on the city's west Mountain, the concept is simple: The fridge is stocked with community-donated provisions, which folks in need of food can take anytime.
If you need to grab anything from the fridge, you're welcome to come by and take whatever you need," said Cantar, who uses they/them pronouns. There are no questions asked, no registration is required."
Cantar said the initiative was fuelled by frustration that the government isn't really taking care of its communities as well as it should be" in terms of food insecurity.
According to Hamilton Food Share's 2019 hunger report, the organization would distribute 9,551 meals worth of food on a typical day that year.
With COVID-19 the issue was only compounded," said Cantar, who acts as co-ordinator for the volunteer-run organization.
Cantar said the community has been really excited and supportive." That includes their hosts, Today's Family - one of the city's largest child care providers.
Marni Flaherty, CEO of Today's Family, said hosting the fridge is an extension" of the work her organization already does with its community garden.
We believe in supporting families," said Flaherty. This is an easy way to do it."
Donations are accepted at any time, but not just anything can be donated. For example, fresh produce, bread, canned goods, shelf-stable milk as well as eggs, butter and frozen packaged meals are welcome, while raw meat, milk, yogurt and expired items are discouraged.
The organization also accepts packaged masks and gloves, menstrual products, laundry soap, toothbrushes and baby food.
Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com