A COMMUNITY centre in Mold has launched a fridge scheme in order to support those in the area.
The Parkfields Community Centre aims to reduce food waste at the same time as ensuring that nobody within the community has to go hungry.
The fridge operates on the simple principle of take what you need, give what you can and is stocked from a mixture of donations and surplus stock.
It is supported by environmental charity Hubbub UK, which is a nationwide network to tackle food waste.
Food waste is a big issue in the UK, with the average household throwing away £700 worth of food every year, and at the same time four million people in the UK are living in food poverty.
Even before coronavirus, almost a quarter of people in Wales and three in 10 children were living in poverty.
Parkfields is working with Lidl in Mold, through their Neighbourly scheme to collect their surplus stock along with food donations made by generous customers.
Parkfields Community Fridge was given a tremendous start in November when the Centre received food from Mold Community Shop’s Buy It Forward scheme.
With the number of Universal Credit claimants doubling from the start of the year, it is likely that more people will be looking to rely on additional support.
Rev Kathryn Price, chairman of Parkfields Community Centre, said: "The Community Fridge is part of a larger Food Hub that Parkfields is working on.
"This includes food for young people at our kid’s and youth clubs held twice a week, and moving forward our plans to update the Centre’s kitchen so we can hold a lunch club.”
Caroline Collis, administrator at Parkfields, added: "People in Mold are helping each other with their donations to the Community Fridge scheme.
"We are also grateful to have received grant funding from three organisations - The Waterloo Foundation, Community Foundation Wales, and Voluntary Services Emergency Fund Comic Relief - enabling us to set up the Community Fridge and also provide food for young people at our youth clubs.
"The Community Fridge operates on the principle of take what you need, food is either quality surplus or donated and anyone can call in and collect what food there is that day.
"Please get in touch to find out the opening times or check out our Facebook page.
"We know that this food is already making a huge difference locally.
"If you have a few hours to spare once a month and would like to volunteer with food collection or stock control, we’d love to hear from you."
To find out more, donate or volunteer, visit the Parkfields Community Centre Facebook page, or contact them via parkfieldsccmold@outlook.com or on 01352 756337.
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