Belfast's first community fridge scheme is due to be launched this week to help reduce food waste and ease the pressure of the cost of living crisis.
The Greater Village Regeneration Trust are launching the project on Friday, July 8, at its centre on the Donegal Road which will see a new space created where the local community will be able to visit and pick up any food items they may need for the day.
The community fridge is designed for all members of the community to use, regardless of need, and will allow everyone from families needing some extra bits for packed lunches to working people looking for extra ingredients for their dinner to get the items they need.
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Sarah Bowden, GVRT director, told Belfast Live: "This is a project that we have been developing through the pandemic which we believe will provide a real boost to the local community during a cost of living crisis, while also helping to reduce food waste and encourage healthy home cooking.
"The fridge will be stocked each day with all your everyday essentials and will be open for anyone to use if they are in need of a few items. This could be a family who needs a few extra bits for packed lunches in the morning or dinner that evening or even someone passing by who has realised they need some milk or bread for the day.
"There will be everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to milk, pasta, bread and meats, and we will be providing new recipes every week for users to try out and we have plans to incorporate community cooking classes into the project.
"The aim of the scheme is for people to take what they need or drop off a few items that they think others might."
The Community Fridge has been supported by a number of organisations including, Co-op Hub Bub, Go Pig Go Home, Unite the Union and Linfield FC, and negotiations are ongoing regarding further support.
Sarah continued: "We are very grateful for all of the support that we have received in order to bring this project together and develop the first ever community fridge in Belfast.
"Hub Bub have provided us with £3,000 of essential funding and Unite the Union have been particularly supportive, purchasing our fridge and new window display so that we are able to advertise the fridge to the community.
"We are currently getting our deliveries from Go Pig Go Home and are in discussions with a major supermarket regarding their support for the scheme as well.
"GVRT are very pleased that this has now finally come together and we look forward to working with the local community into making this a success for the area."
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