McMaster University in west Hamilton is home to city’s newest community fridge
Published April 20, 2022 at 11:47 am
McMaster University’s west Hamilton campus is now home to the city’s newest community fridge.
On Friday (April 22), the McMaster Community Fridge will open to the public for the first time.
“We know that two in five Canadian university students experience food insecurity, and this negatively impacts their physical and mental health,” said Sufal Deb, a science student involved in the university’s community fridge project.
“I know students who are stressed about the cost of food, and this will make healthy choices free and easily accessible. While we know the fridge will not solve food insecurity, we hope it helps to alleviate some of the stress individuals face.”
Visitors to the campus on Friday, including students, faculty and staff, have been invited to come out to the new fridge between 12 to 3 p.m. to enjoy a free hot chocolate and learn more about the project. At this time, donations will also be accepted.
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This will be Hamilton’s fourth community fridge, the first of which opened to the public early in the pandemic.
Students in a third-year undergraduate SUSTAIN course looking address food insecurity among their peers worked to bring the community fridge to the campus. It will continue to be monitored by McMaster volunteers who will be committed to checking, stocking and cleaning the fridge.
The fridge’s shelter, built by staff from Mac’s Facility Services, is designed to protect the privacy and dignity of those accessing it and its artwork, painted by Mac student Selina Shi, was designed to confront the stigma associated with food insecurity.
Once the fridge opens on Friday, it will be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In the meantime, the fridge is in need of donations of fresh, frozen, or non-perishable food.
The fridge is located on McMaster University’s main campus, behind Mill’s Library near Parking Lot B.
Follow the McMaster Community Fridge on Instagram for regular updates about the food available that day and what types of donations are accepted, spanning from fresh, frozen and non-perishable food items, to personal hygiene and pet food products.
Community members interested in joining the community fridge volunteer group can contact [email protected].
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