Calgary community fridge feeding people with take-what-you-need service
Posted Aug 20, 2021 12:45 pm.
CALGARY – When the pandemic hit, Riki Entz felt left behind. Their disability made it hard for them to get groceries.
Without a car, they couldn’t carry much at once and the wait times for delivery services grew lengthy.
At one point, Entz was forced to quarantine, making access to food even more challenging.
“I remember one day just finally breaking down and crying because I spent 14 hours trying to find a way to get food,” they shared.
Then came The Community Fridge in Crescent Heights, which offers refrigerated and non-perishable food to anyone in need.
A neighbour told Entz about it and offered to bring them food from the take-what-you-need service.
“You just show up and have food to eat. And I think people just forget about how important that is. And that’s just something that everyone deserves,” Entz said.
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On days where they have extra, Entz gives back to the fridge.
“Calgarians really like contributing to this type of cause because it’s so direct, it’s so hands-on. They can see an immediate difference,” explained Alice Lam, the co-founder of the Calgary Community Fridge.
Volunteers check the fridge multiple times a day to keep the area clean and dignified.
After one year of operation–and growing demand for food–Lam says there have been no concerns with vandalism or tampering.
A community fridge in Calgary is helping feed people in the area, with its take-what-you-need service. (Photo provided)
“We are seeing more and more people coming to the fridge every day,” she said, adding about 100 people visit the fridge daily.
Lam says the fridge is a no-judgement zone, and some people who take a lot from the fridge are often doing so to drop food off for their neighbours or family.
“The community care surrounding the fridge has been very high,” said Lam.
But the fridge itself can only go so far.
“We need better policies to address poverty and food scarcity and affordable housing. We can always grab things from our pantry and put it into the fridge but we can’t build housing.”
She wants people to consider that when it comes time to vote in the upcoming elections.
In the meantime, fridge founders have opened a pay-what-you-want thrift store downtown.
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“It’s called the Good Neighbour Community Market and it’s open Thursday through Saturday and there you will find food, you will find clothing. And 100 per cent of the proceeds of what people pay to us for the items is used to buy more food for the fridge,” Lam explained.
A pay-what-you-can thrift store has opened in downtown Calgary. Photo provided)
They’ve been busy helping people set up fridges in other provinces and areas as well foster community spirit in more neighbourhoods.
“We can focus on how things are hard or we can focus on how there are sometimes that we have the power to come together and make things better for each other,” added Entz.
The community fridges and stores are in need of donations as well, specifically toiletry items like toothpaste, toothbrushes, and period products.
They’re also short on sealed, non-alcoholic beverages, like water bottles, juice, and pop.
Food donations can be dropped off at the fridge itself and donations for The Good Neighbour Market can be dropped at the store.
