I am finally volunteering in Orkney. For a variety of reasons – some mine, some the local volunteer organization, some COVID-related – it has taken me one full year to start volunteering. I am now doing several hours a week at the Community Fridge. Which is not what I thought it was.
Food waste is a huge problem in the UK (and elsewhere too, I’m sure). The Greener Orkney Community Fridge is not, as I had originally assumed, a foodbank. Instead, local businesses donate foods that are at or near their Best Before or Use By dates, and the Community Fridge makes them available to anyone in the community via their three ‘fridges’.
What we are trying to educate the community on is that the food is truly for anyone. Orkney does have a foodbank, specifically for those who are struggling with the ridiculous increases in the cost of living here in Scotland. But the Community Fridge is for anyone on Orkney to come in and take what appeals to them. There is no need to make a donation – the focus is on the reduction of food waste. The fridges are in Kirkwall, Stromness, and Dounby, and are borrowed storefront space, or community hall space, etc. . . The one I am working in in Kirkwall is the partitioned-off, storefront portion of ORSAS, the Orkney Rape & Sexual Assault Support services.
My job is quite simple: I pick up any donations on the day I am covering the Fridge (we don’t say ‘manning’, and ‘peopleing’ just sounds weird), weigh them, label anything we are about to freeze, and set out any dry goods or produce that has come in. Then, I sit and read a book, and as people come in, I answer any questions, and ensure people don’t take more than their immediate need. *There really isn’t a limit per se on what people can take other than only one packet of meat per person – but we remind the visitors that it is food for the whole community. So far, mostly everyone is very understanding.
This has been a great way for me to meet people – and on the days when we’re less busy, I sit and read. Lovely.
There is one challenge – I’m allowed to take food too. And it’s hard for me to do that. I keep thinking “this is for those in need, Elaine.” But really, that’s not the point. The volunteers are encouraged to take what they need too, to help reduce waste. Again, we’re asked to go easy, just like everyone else. Once I got past the weird feeling of guilt, I have to say, this has been great. So far, I have taken home one packet of meat per week (usually 2 patties or 4 sausages) from the local butcher, a bag of potatoes (which seemed to have gotten bigger in the car on the way home as if they were under an engorgement charm – I have a lot of tatties to eat this month), lettuce (a future post coming about Brits and salads), and apricot jam (one of the few jams I like).
Community Fridge – an excellent initiative.