Frome’s pioneering community fridge is still looking for sponsorship from local businesses to ensure the project can continue to reduce food waste and increase access to fresh produce.
Following a story in the Frome Times, the fridge has received sponsorship from two local businesses. Other grants and sponsorships are in the pipeline, but with a target of 20 the scheme is in need of more.
The Frome community fridge is the first of its kind in the UK. It diverts food that would otherwise be wasted to anyone, including food bank users and others in need.
Set up by Edventure in May 2016 with the support of Frome Town Council, to date the fridge has diverted over 20,000 items and has attracted national media including featuring on Jamie Oliver’s Food Feast on Channel 4.
Every £1 towards the cost of the community fridge provides an estimated £11.48 worth of free food to somebody who needs it, and saves 1.38kg in food waste.
Polly Bodey from the Frome Town Council Resilience Team said, “To enable the fridge to continue we need to secure local sponsorship to cover our costs. Could you sponsor the fridge for just £2.50 per week?
“To ensure there are volunteers delivering food to the fridge each day, cleaning, checking and promoting, the project employs a part time co-ordinator. It also pays rent and electricity. The project therefore needs to secure £250 a month to cover its costs.”
The scheme would also like to hear from local businesses who want to donate any surplus food, which is within the use by dates, to the fridge for anyone to access.
The fridge, based at the colourful Loop de Loop near Frome library is open every day from 8am to 8pm.
To sponsor the fridge or to get involved visit www.edventurefrome.org/ fridge or email fridge @edventurefrome.org
