Frequently Asked Questions

Community fridges are a volunteer-run, publicly accessible, low-barrier resource, from which community members can get free food. Community fridges are a method to reduce food waste, and by donating, volunteering, and spreading the word, are a method to provide care for one’s own community. Community fridges and pantries have gained a lot of prevalence recently, as the pandemic has highlighted the need for mutual aid.

Come by any time (24/7) and place items directly inside the fridge, freezer, or pantry. If your donation is packaged in bulk/multiples, it’s especially helpful if you can disassemble it and take excess packaging away with you.

Our donation guidelines have been carefully chosen to allow a wide variety of foods, while also eliminating the most “high-risk” items, in accordance with Public Health.

Requests from the community are often shared on our Facebook and Instagram stories. Our Instagram page features a “Requests” highlight, which shows recent location-specific requests. 

✅ Just some examples of wonderful donations: fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables, bread, eggs, dairy and alternatives, water bottles (especially in the summer!), commercially packed frozen meals, canned goods, grab-and-go snacks, cereal, baby formula, menstrual products, and hygiene items (such as soap, shampoo, toothbrushes/paste, sunscreen). 

❌ Please note that we do not accept home-cooked food, raw meat (in the fridge OR freezer), or items past expiry, opened, or going bad. (Non-perishable items just slightly past the best-before date are accepted).

Yes please; your support is needed! Please ensure that items are labelled with the certified kitchen or restaurant name, ingredients or allergens, and prepared and/or best-before date. Feel free to contact us for additional clarity or if pick-up support is needed: communityfridgeshamont@gmail.com

In instances such as food rescues and larger donations, we can certainly arrange to have a volunteer pick up. While we value even the smallest donations, we likely won’t be able to send our volunteers out for them. Coordinating with your friends, and neighbours, or posting your donation on a local free Facebook group (such as Hamilton Leftovers or Recycling Kindness), maybe a good alternative. Feel free to contact us with any inquiries: communityfridgeshamont@gmail.com

We do not accept monetary donations but can happily accept gift cards. Please click here to read more.

This initiative is sustained entirely by community efforts. You can help by:

• Joining our volunteer team (fridge cleaning, transporting goods, etc.)
• Donating food and hygiene supplies directly to the fridges
• Fundraising or collecting nonperishables at your office, storefront, or event  
• Donating unsold goods from your certified kitchen
• Donating a gift card to support our ongoing costs
• Taking a picture while you’re at the fridge, and sharing it on social media (you can also tag us!)
• Spreading the word in your networks (online and off)
• Donating building materials for future weatherized shelters
• Hosting a fridge outside your business

While community fridges are not the solution to food insecurity, there continues to be a need for tangible support via mutual aid. Some important things to consider when planning a community fridge, from our perspective, are:

• Having a team of volunteers that can disinfect and maintain the fridge regularly (typically 2-3 times daily).
• Finding a host that can provide space (private property*), electricity, and ideally that is keen on this endeavour and understands its importance.
• Building weather protection for the fridge to ensure year-long operation.
• Utilizing social media to find the help you need. Let folks in your community know you’re trying to make this happen! 
• Maintaining a barrier-free resource, to the best of your ability
• *Private property is recommended over city-owned, as with city owned property (such as parks or sidewalks) you will likely run into more red tape or risk your fridge being removed.

 Visit Host/Start a Fridge to learn more.