On Friday 1st March 2019, the first community fridge in Suffolk was launched and is located at St Andrew’s Church in Roman Road, Lowestoft.
The volunteer-led Lowestoft community fridge project is a new initiative that aims to reduce food waste and provide fresh food for those in need.
Those behind the scheme said they hoped to roll the scheme out to other areas in the town and across Suffolk.
Supported by the Suffolk Waste Partnership, East Suffolk Council, the Morrisons Foundation and environmental charity Hubbub, the fridge is part of the Food Savvy campaign aimed at tackling rising levels of food waste.
Businesses, organisations and residents are able to donate surplus food to the fridge where it can be collected by any local individual in order to increase a spirit of sharing locally.
Rev Damon Rogers welcomed those present at the unveiling of the Lowestoft community fridge and said:
“This shows there are many good things happening in this town – together we can achieve a lot for our Roman Hill community and in turn for the town itself. Having the community fridge here in Lowestoft will be a huge benefit to the local community.”
The fridge was donated by Lowestoft-based Hughes Electrical and the scheme is run by volunteers with support and guidance from the Community Enablers Team at Community Action Suffolk, as part of the Lowestoft Community Capacity Project.
Roy Emmerson, senior community enabler for Community Action Suffolk, said:
“It is a real feather in the cap for Lowestoft to have the first community fridge in Suffolk.”
Dave Eagle, community enabler for the Harbour ward, added:
“To have this fantastic resource situated at St. Andrews church, a true community hub, really will help support people in the Lowestoft area.”
Tessa Tricks, creative partner at Hubbub, expressed her delight:
“I’m delighted there is growing support for this movement to tackle food waste at a community level.”
Phil Aves, change manager for Lowestoft Rising, said:
“This time last year the Lowestoft Foodbank was relaunched and a year on 3,500 people have been fed by that Foodbank. This is a great project and with fridges hopefully opening up across Lowestoft, it means certain types of food can be put in there that can’t go to the foodbanks.”
At the launch, the mayor of Lowestoft Ian Graham cut a ribbon to open the new facility, he said:
“This is fantastic news for the area.”
