Lewes Community Fridge needs volunteers.. can you help?
Lewes Community Fridge has now been established for over three years, and is one of over 700 in the UK alone, with thousands all over the world. The aims of community fridges are to reduce food waste, alleviate food insecurity, promote mutual aid, promote community engagement and support sustainability.
Every week we collect surplus food from local businesses and redistribute it throughout our community. Whereas food banks often require a referral, everyone is welcome to use a community fridge, and everything is free to take.
As volunteers, what do we do?
Our organisation is run entirely by volunteers. Each Friday evening, our volunteers collect surplus food from local businesses, transport it to our fridge and freezer at Lewes Town Hall kitchen where it is unpacked and organised. Then every Saturday morning we open our community fridge to the public (who can access it through the back entrance to the Town Hall kitchen on Market Lane).
We manage the patrons as they pass through the fridge to ensure the food is shared and everyone gets something to take. Everything is weighed so that we can keep a record of how much, and what kinds of food we save from going to waste.
There is an opportunity to work as part of either, or both of the teams carrying out these tasks. We always work in pairs, one of whom will be experienced. We have a rota system where you can volunteer for the slots and weeks that work for you.
What do our volunteers say about working with a community initiative like this?
Denise – “I have been volunteering for the Community Fridge for three years. It’s been a really great way of getting to know my neighbours better, and connecting with more people around town, both volunteers and visitors. It’s very satisfying to see the amounts of food being saved from waste – it really adds up, week after week. Visitors say they like finding different foods that they wouldn’t have tried otherwise.”
Mary-Louise – “I love being part of the Community Fridge volunteering team because it’s such a direct and tangible way of cutting food waste and tackling food poverty at the same time. It’s a win-win. I also really enjoy working alongside the other volunteers, and meeting all the people that support the organisation’s work, from the staff in the bakeries and supermarkets who donate food to the visitors who come and collect it. I’ve picked up some great recipe ideas for how to make the most of food that would otherwise go to waste along the way too! I’d recommend it to anyone who cares about reducing the amount of waste in our society and supporting people in a cost-of-living crisis. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been impacted by the dramatic rise in food prices in the last couple of years. This feels like a fantastic way to do a little something about it that makes a real difference.”
Would you like to help?
If you would like to join our team or find out more about us, we’d love to hear from you. We will provide you with all the training and guidance you need to get started, and our welcoming and experienced team will be there to support you all the way.
Whether you can help every month, or just occasionally your support is warmly welcomed. Please contact us at