Community fridge welcomes 20,000 visitors in first year

DUNDEE: More than 50 tonnes of food distributed free from city facility

Dundee’s first community fridge helped feed more than 20,000 visitors in its first year since opening.

Run by the Gate Church, the west end food service celebrated its first birthday yesterday.

In its first year the community fridge welcomed 20,189 visitors and handed out almost 57 tonnes of food, which would have otherwise been binned.

The service is open to anyone, as opposed to traditional foodbanks which typically require a referral.

Lynsey Penny, project co-ordinator, said the scheme was reducing food waste and helping the environment as well as passing on good healthy produce to the people of Dundee.

She said: “We had no idea how much of an impact the community fridge would have when we opened it 12 months ago. We’ve received more than four times as much food as we’d hoped for and people tell us all the time they are so happy that it’s there.

“It’s great we’ve been able to save all

“It’s great we’ve been able to save all this food from going to waste. LYNSEY PENNY, PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR

this food from going to waste, but rather used it to provide food for locals in a stigma-free environment.

“We couldn’t have done any of this without our amazing volunteers and the fantastic support of the community.”

On average, 80-100 people visited the Perth Road base everyday.

Food staples such as fruit, vegetables and pasta are on offer as well as more luxurious items like smoked salmon, steak and locally baked bread.

A deal with supplier CJ Lang, which distributes to Spar stores across the country, resulted in a sharp increase in the volume of food on offer late last year.

Volunteer Heather Doughty said there was a strong sense of community building between visitors and those who run it. She said: “We have always made a difference and it is (about) more than just food.”

The project has been praised by Alastair Seaman, climate change manager at Keep Scotland Beautiful, which has supported the initiative through its Climate Challenge Fund.

He said: “Projects supported by the fund have provided vital assistance for their communities, both before and during the Covid-19 crisis, while also helping to tackle the climate emergency.

“The Gate Church carbon saving project is a fantastic example, with their fridge helping to ensure that surplus food is made available for free.”

Picture: Paul Reid. Project co-ordinator Lynsey Penny, centre, and project assistant Joyce Reid with cakes which were handed out free to visitors to celebrate the Perth Road fridge’s first birthday.