New Community Fridge opens in North Stoneham

The Council has supported the opening of a new Community Fridge at the YMCA Eastleigh Community Centre, working alongside North Stoneham Community Group to benefit residents and to help reduce food waste.

North Stoneham Community Fridge opened its doors in April with items donated from local supermarkets, food businesses, produce from local gardens and individuals. The aim of a Community Fridge is to provide a space that brings people together and helps teach people about food waste whilst also making the Borough more sustainable.

The fridge has been funded through a grant provided by the Waste Prevention Community Fund at Hampshire County Council and supported by Eastleigh Borough Council in setting up the project. People can collect items from the fridge as well as donating items that they no longer need to prevent them going to waste.

Cllr Paul Bicknell, said: “The Community Fridge is a great way for people to save food from going to waste whilst also saving themselves some money. There is a real stigma around food banks but these community spaces exist to simply reduce food waste and promote a spirit of sharing and mutual support within a community.”

The Community Fridge is part of the HUBBub community fridge network that provides people with the opportunity to access healthy food, try something new and save money.

This Community Fridge offers a source of fresh, good quality surplus food for everyone, including fresh fruit and vegetables and operates on a trust basis, people using it are not means tested. The fridge is open daily from 10am until 4pm (excluding Bank Holidays).

Find out more details of the North Stoneham community fridge and which items are accepted at hubbub.org.uk/the-community-fridge