Saxmundham Community Fridge, near Framlingham, has kept 12 tonnes of food from landfills
A community food project that seeks to prevent food waste and help people skirt the cost-of-living has prevented nearly 12 tonnes of food from entering landfills.
Saxmundham's community fridge - a project that gives away unsold food from supermarkets and bakeries as well as any donations – has saved around 11,421kg of food, which is given to anyone who may need it.
Set up 19 months ago by St John's Church, part of the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, it is different from food banks as anyone can access its services without the need for referral.
It gives away food in events twice a week, Monday and Friday, from 10.30 to 11.30am.
Marion Hedley Lewis founded the project in March 2021, which is now supported by the church, the Suffolk Community Foundation and the environmental charity Hubbub.
She first heard about community fridges on Countryfile and loved the idea, and wanted to set one up after she retired.
Marion said: “It has exploded recently – we have grown dramatically and have around 40 to 50 people visit us each session. We’ve now had more than 1,500 visitors since we relaunched at our new high street venue in June.
“I love the fact it is a leveller, and it doesn’t matter how much you earn. Anyone can come.”
Outside of supermarket food, the fridge takes donations from allotment owners.
One of the most recent donations was 200kg of apples, which were used for an apple-pressing event.
This was organised alongside Park Gate Care Farm, outside Ipswich, who took leftovers to feed their donkeys as another way of preventing waste.
The fridge also seeks to tackle another prevalent hangover from the Covid-19 pandemic – loneliness.
Being staffed by volunteers, it has given people in the town who live alone or who don't have too many things to do a chance to meet others.
Marion added: “We are in an unusual position as we don’t want to have to exist – we don’t want so much food going to waste.
“But I am so proud of what we have achieved together. I am thrilled to bits with the volunteer team – they are the best.
“We are also lucky to have support from local people and businesses – a community really is being built.”