Guest blog from Pollokshields Development Agency sharing the progress of their new Community Fridge, through their ‘PDA Goes Green’ project.
The Community Fridge is a place for all to come together and share food.
It is a space to enable residents and local businesses to share surplus food, and the community to help themselves to quality food that would otherwise be wasted.
It’s not a food bank; there are no means-testing procedures, or assessments necessary before accessing food. It’s simply a place where the community can come together and share good quality food. It’s a place where one day you can take food away, and perhaps the next day you can bring something of your own to donate.
It’s a project for the community that is run by the community: by the Pollokshields Development Agency (PDA) and its volunteers.
Strengthening community bonds
As well as reducing food waste, the PDA are using the Community Fridge to strengthen community bonds and build relationships.
At the Community Fridge you can meet like-minded people, know your neighbours a bit better, exchange recipes or talk about common issues.
Climate conversations
The fridge has become a hub for food education and climate conversations, promoting the benefits of the sharing economy, addressing health and wellbeing concerns, and reducing social isolation.
It’s a place to come if you need Home Energy Advice, or want to learn more about the current climate crisis and what can be done at a personal and local level to combat this.
Reducing food waste
Our Community Fridge is a part of the Community Fridge Network in Scotland which aims to reduce food waste. Reportedly, every household throws away on average £460 worth of edible food each year. Around 60% of that waste is avoidable as the food could have been eaten had it been better managed. The Scottish Government has recently introduced a target to reduce food waste in Scotland by 33% by 2025, and Community Fridges are one of the approaches to tackling this issue.
The community have taken to the Community Fridge with great enthusiasm, and are praising the initiative:
“It’s very good for the people, everybody needs it, it helps to stop waste – also helps for people’s health, to help children – everybody working here is very nice, talk nicely, helpful – I am very happy. I don’t waste anything.’”
“I came in today to see the Community Fridge and how it works. I am so impressed at how welcoming and easy to use the fridge is. I think this is an amazing community benefit. I feel this will bring lots of people together.’”
Visit the Fridge
Where is it? at 4 Maxwell Rd, G41 1QE
When is it open? Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10.30am to 2.30pm and Thursdays from 12 pm to 4pm.
Donate food: We welcome donations of unopened, packaged foods within their use by date, and raw fruit or vegetables, which are available for free to anyone in the community to take.
Contact
If you have any questions about the Fridge or PDA Goes Green, please contact info@pdaglasgow.org.uk / 0141 429 4249
The PDA Goes Green Community Fridge is the first Community Fridge in Pollokshields, Glasgow. It officially launched on the 20th of February by Pollokshields Development Agency (PDA), supported by the environmental charity Hubbub, and enabled by a grant from the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund (CCF).
