Ottawa's first outdoor community fridge aims to help 'neighbours in need'

It's white on the outside, but Ottawa's first outdoor community fridge is bursting with the bright colours of fresh fruits and vegetables on the inside all free to anyone who needs them.

The fridge, which officially opened on Friday, is located outside the Parkdale Food Centre on Rosemount Avenuein the city's Hintonburg neighbourhood.

Staff and volunteers from the centrewill be cleaning and monitoring the fridge seven days a week. People are allowed to takewhat they need and donate what they can, no questions asked.

The idea to launch the fridge came about earlier this year whilethe Parkdale Food Centre was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, saidGillian Koh-Slepchik, a member of the Hintonburg Community Association.

The association donated the fridge and then worked with the centre and the Ottawa Community Food Partnership to get it up and running.

"COVID-19 has magnified the importance of social services," saidKoh-Slepchik.

"We wanted to find a way to help our neighbours in need access fresh food."

Growing in popularity

Community fridges are part of agrowing international food-sharing initiative that's popping up across Canada. In downtown Toronto, there are eight community fridges already in operation.

• How outdoor community fridges are changing life for those facing hard times

Marjorie Peart was the first person to visit Ottawa's fridge Friday, taking home some yogurt.

"Well, I like it because there are items available. Some I don't eat ... but most of it is good fruit," Peart said.

George Dalton, a Parkdale Food Centre volunteer, said the fridge is already creating a buzz among those who struggle with food security.

"It's convenient, right? And everybody uses it wisely, which is great," he said.

Good food, good health

Ottawa does haveseven community fridges atvarious social service agencies across the city, said Karen Secord, executive director of the Parkdale Food Centre.

Butthe COVID-19 pandemic has rendered them mostlyinaccessible as they're located inside buildings closed to the public," she said.

Secord said the centre believes that "good food is intricately associated with good health."

"People who have the lowest income in fact should receive the best quality food," she said, adding that it's important for the fridge to operate without any sort of policing or monitoring of what people take.

The centre is encouraging all types of donations, save for a few items that include raw meat, home-cooked meals and food that's already expired.

Organizers are hoping that if this outdoor fridge is successful, the model could be replicated in different locations around the city.