What is a community fridge?

The UK’s Community Fridge Network (of which The Unity Fridge is a member) defines a community fridge as “a space that brings people together to share food, meet up, learn new skills and prevent fresh food from going to waste. They’re open to all and anyone can share or take food, including surplus from supermarkets, local food businesses, producers, households and gardens. Fridges are run by community groups in shared spaces such as schools, community centres and shops.” They are a form of mutual aid project that acts as a response to food insecurity, social isolation, and food waste.

What's the difference between a community fridge and a food bank?

Food banks distribute food and other essentials to those who would otherwise be unable to afford them. They are an emergency response to food poverty and provide vital support to those most in need. People generally have to be referred to food banks in order to obtain food from them. As the Community Food Network states, “food banks are a lifeline solution within a broken system, but most people would rather they didn’t have to exist.” Contrastingly, a community fridge is intended to be a longer-term feature of a community and as such a more sustainable means of tackling food insecurity. They are open to all, without referral or means-testing.

What sort of food does The Unity Fridge provide?

The Unity Fridge is stocked by kind donations from local supermarkets, greengrocers and individuals. As such, the food we are able to offer fluctuates depending on what we are given at any given time. We usually always have stock of basic staple foods like bread, milk, eggs, rice and pasta, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables that we collect every Tuesday. We also usually have a good stock of tinned food like soup, vegetables, fruit, sauces and tinned meat and fish.

Does The Unity Fridge provide anything else?

As well as food, The Unity Fridge tries to provide other basic essentials that we believe no one should go without due to cost. These include toilet paper and toiletries. If you are new to the fridge we will ask you to fill out a form where, amongst other questions, you will be asked what sort of items or support you are in need of. We try to provide anything people ask for on these questionnaires or, if we cannot supply it ourselves, signpost you to other organisations that can help.

We are sometimes able to provide cat and dog food, but this depends on stock levels. Donations of non-food items are less reliable, so we unfortunately don't always have them in stock.

We also provide SIM cards through a partnership with the charity Sim Pal. The SIM cards we get come pre-loaded with a set amount of data which refreshes every month for 6 months. They help people to keep in touch with friends and relatives and get around by using the internet to access maps and find out about events and activities locally. For more vulnerable people and refugees and asylum seekers these SIM cards can be a real lifeline. Occasionally we run out of SIM cards -  you can also sign up for one at any Lancashire County Council run library as part of the National Databank scheme. The library nearest the church is Rawtenstall Library.

How do I get to The Unity Fridge?

The Unity Fridge opens every Tuesday 11:00am-12:30pm. It is held here at Rawtenstall Unitarian Church on Bank Street in Rawtenstall. Access is through the side entrance, which you can get to on foot via either set of stairs in front of the church on Bank Street. For step-free access or if you are coming by car you can get to the church via Ormerod Street. Our car park is at the very end of the street and is open to all fridge users.

How can I donate to The Unity Fridge?

The Unity Fridge is grateful for any and all donations we receive, big or small. Everything you can give helps us to help those most in need locally. If you have surplus food items you would like to donate, the best way to get in touch is by messaging The Unity Fridge on Facebook. If you would like to make a monetary donation then please email admin@rawtenstallunitarians.org.

Can I volunteer with The Unity Fridge?

We are always in need of new volunteers and would love to have you! You can volunteer either to help run the fridge on Tuesdays or to collect donations from local supermarkets if you have access to a car. Any time you can spare is much appreciated, and what hours you volunteer are flexible and up to you. To sign up as a volunteer we would need you to fill out a volunteer form, available at the church. For more information, please contact us by phone or email.