A new ‘community fridge’ is helping to bring people together in a Leicestershire town.
Based in Lutterworth’s Family Hub, it’s filled with donated food, which members of the community can take for free.
It’s the fifth community fridge to be opened by Leicestershire County Council to help reduce food waste and support the community – others are based in Family Hubs in Coalville, Wigston Magna, Hinckley and Loughborough (Shelthorpe).
Since it opened in May, volunteers and ‘customers’ have been sharing recipes, trying new food, cooking with food they have never used before and making meals for neighbours - and even the wider community.
Sam Peverett, volunteer development officer at the county council, said: “We get given a lot of fresh items and as a result we’re seeing some people trying fruit and vegetables they’ve never eaten before.
“We’ve also seen people swap recipe ideas while waiting for their bags and we know others make meals, or things like strawberry jam, for neighbours from the food.
“George Street Church even made hot meals using some of the ingredients, which it then served to the community for free.
“Our volunteers have really gelled well, and some have been sharing their own recipe ideas with people. They have been such an asset and have helped to make this all possible.”
In the space of a year, the council’s fridges were used by more than 11,000 people across the county and saved around 42 tonnes- the equivalent weight of around 21 shipping containers - of waste going to landfill.
Deborah Taylor, county council cabinet member for children and families, said: “It’s great to hear that the Lutterworth fridge is already having such a positive impact.
“Food waste is a really big issue across the country but the brilliant thing about community fridges is that people can make use of perfectly good food that would otherwise be thrown away.
“We’d like to thank all our volunteers and the businesses who support and help run our fridges. Your support in invaluable.”
The council’s community fridges are run thanks to a partnership with the environmental charity Hubbub UK.
They’re stocked with donations from local residents, projects and supermarkets. In Lutterworth this includes E and R Tearooms and Sweet Sisters but regular donors also include Greggs, Lidl, Aldi, Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Tesco, Waitrose, Milner’s Bakery and The Coop.
Lutterworth Community Fridge is based in the Family Hub on Coventry Road LE17 4RB and opens from 10-11.30am Mondays and Wednesdays and 1-2pm on Thursdays.
For more information, please visit the Family Hubs Leicestershire page.