About CF HamOnt
Take what you need. Leave what you can.
CF HamOnt Operating Area
Crown Point (East Hamilton)
204 Ottawa Street South
Open 24/7
Community Fridges HamOnt operates on the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas.
Community Fridges HamOnt Is:
Open To All
No registration, stipulations, or judgments.
A Mutual Aid Group Made Up Of Local Residents
This all-volunteer group oversees planning, cleaning, building and repairs, donation outreach and pickups, and more. We’re always welcoming new volunteers to join the team.
Sustained By Donations From The Community
Donations can be placed in the fridge, freezer, or pantry by anyone, any time (following provided donation guidelines).
An Opportunity To Reduce Food Waste.
According to Second Harvest, 58% of all food produced in Canada is thrown out every year. At CF HamOnt we seek donations from local businesses for end-of-day bread, excess produce, and more.
Community Fridges HamOnt Is Not:
A Charity Or A Business
We do not receive government funding.
A Solution To Food Insecurity
All people in all communities deserve accessible & nutritious food, a living wage, safe and affordable housing, and accessible health care.
What to expect on site at the fridges
A typical visit to the community fridge includes a variety of interactions with community members. People frequently stop by to take what they need, drop off what they can, or pass by and ask questions.
See a mess on site? Volunteers stop by throughout the day to ensure things are operating safely and respectfully, but we can always use more help. Please put garbage in the provided bins or contact us if something needs urgent attention.
Responding to questions, comments, or suggestions
Depending on the interaction, the brochures available on-site can be a helpful resource to share. The Donation Guide provides further information about donating to the community fridges, while the Resource Guide provides a list of other local free food resources
How can volunteers respond to comments, from donors or otherwise, about perceived fairness when it comes to people taking what they need?
Active listening is key. Everyone wants to be heard.
“Thank you for sharing your feedback. It’s important for us to understand your perspective as your donation is so important – you can see there is great need in our community.”
Next, we want to ensure folks understand our intent.
Community Fridges HamOnt strives to be a judgment-free, compassion-first space.
Volunteers and donors work as a collective to fill the fridges, freezers, and pantries, with the intent for them to be used by everyone and anyone in need; no questions asked. This model breaks down barriers that are so frequently faced by community members when they try to access food from other resources.
Finally, the fridge is for everyone.
We want all community members to feel safe, comfortable, and free to come and go from the community fridges – taking what they know they need. Everyone has a different story.
Who uses this all-access resource?
Community Fridges HamOnt doesn’t collect data on the community members using the fridges and pantries. We know by speaking with those who visit that they come from diverse backgrounds, each with their own story.
One local community member eagerly visits from a few doors down, as they support their multigenerational family on one small pension. The CFH fridge is their primary source of food at this time due to health, transportation, and financial challenges.
A local community member stops by to pick up items that meet their needs, and will also drop off items from their pantry at home. They share that they receive meal kit support, however, due to dietary restrictions, they pass along the goods they cannot eat.
A retired community member picks up items on behalf of their neighbour who has two children under 3 years old. They say whenever there are diapers, baby food, or fresh fruit, it’s exciting, as it’s a big help.
Another regular visitor, a young parent and newcomer from Syria, works full-time, and values the support from the CFH pantry as their income does not yet make ends meet.
Many individuals who are sleeping rough or unhoused frequent the fridge and pantry as a source of nourishment for themselves, and will often collect items for their peers.
Two young children stop by the community fridge for snacks and prepared meals, stating they help out at mealtime when their single parent, who works long hours, is not home.