Following the success of Frome Community Fridge, Frome Town Council, Edventure and a team of volunteers have been working together to set up a community larder in an adjacent cubicle at Loop de Loop in Market Yard.
Fridge Co-ordinator Nikki Meape said ‘When we pick up surplus food from local supermarkets we often find that we can’t fit all of it in the fridge. Many of these items, such as bread and potatoes don’t need refrigeration so having the space next door to put them in makes lots of sense.’
Frome Mayor Richard Ackroyd said “The fridge enables around 6000 items a month to be enjoyed rather than be thrown away. With 4 million tonnes of good food being thrown away in the UK and 4 million people in food poverty it makes total sense to share this ‘surplus’ through the fridge and the new larder. We would like to thank all the volunteers who pick up food and clean the fridge – without them the fridge would be empty. We would especially like to thank volunteers Richard Chisnall and Jim Horton who set up the larder for everyone in Frome to use.”
Nikki added “We work in partnership with Fair Frome to ensure that the food bank get priority. The fridge is for good quality surplus items that the food bank don’t need and are for anyone to help themselves to. We just ask that people only take what they need and leave enough for others. Due to the risk of contamination people with allergens are asked not to use the fridge.”
Frome’s fridge was the first community fridge in the UK, there are now more than 40 around the country. A short film about the fridge has recently been made and will be available at: www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/community-fridge/
If you’d like to get involved and help support the fridge through volunteering or sponsorship contact: fridge@edventurefrome.org
