Help Build a Community Fridge on Mi’kmaki!

Community Fridge HFX is asking for your support to fundraise for the structure and costs related to the community fridge/pantry. As seen in the images, we need to build a structure in order to keep the fridge and pantry insulated from the cold weather. It is very important to us that the fridge be accessible. Therefore, it must remain outdoors - even in our harsh winters!

Below are photos of the location, graciously hosted by Glitter Bean Cafe, and the structure design.

Our mission in bringing this community fridge to Mi’kmaki is to combat food insecurity through the power of mutual aid. Our group members have noticed that, while Halifax has multiple food banks and other food resources, current services don’t allow for individuals to remain anonymous, nor do they provide 24/7 access. Also, many traditional food resources limit the frequency of visits, the items one can take, and the quantity of goods. This impedes peoples’ access to food, as well as hinders their right to dignified choice. Studies have shown that nearly 80% of severely food insecure households do not access food bank services, for fear of stigma and shame (Tarasuk et al., 2019). Our community fridge, however, provides an anti-oppressive approach to food security, where community members can take and/or leave food as they need, for free. Such a model allows individuals to take what they want, as much as they want, when they want - no shaming or policing involved. While community fridges still do not address the underlying causes to food insecurity, such as poverty, they are a more dignified, respectful way for community members to work with food-insecure neighbours in the spirit of community.

This funding would enable us to pay for the necessary materials to build an insulated shelter for the fridge, art supplies to decorate the fridge in vibrant and welcoming designs, monthly utilities, cleaning supplies, and to maintain a small savings for maintenance and possible unforeseen circumstances. We commit to absolute transparency of our spending and will be updating the community on our instagram regarding the funds and their use.

We have partnered with a local experienced builder who will be volunteering their time to construct our winter-proof structure. They have given us an estimate of $1500 for the building costs. The remainder of the funds will go towards the other costs mentioned previously.

Lastly, we believe it is imperative to recognize that this project has been dreamt up and created on the unceded unsurrendered territory of the Mi’kmaq people. We acknowledge that the food insecurity which our community fridge seeks to eradicate is felt particularly amongst Indigenous peoples. The over-representation of Indigenous peoples amongst food-insecure individuals is inherently linked to colonization, which sought to separate Indigenous peoples from their traditional food systems of hunting, fishing and gathering. TRC Call to Action #19 states: “We call upon the federal government, in consultation with Aboriginal peoples, to establish measurable goals to identify and close the gaps in health outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities.” We believe that food insecurity and its underlying causes must be included in this effort.

Thank you for taking the time to read this message and we hope that you can spare whatever you can to help us make this community fridge a reality! If you cannot donate but would like to help out, please reach out to us at our email or on instagram. We will also be needing volunteers in the upcoming months, so feel free to contact us to enlist your support!

Instagram: communityfridgehfx

Email: [email redacted]

Kindly,

Community Fridge Halifax

The referenced study: https://proof.utoronto.ca/publication-the-relationship-between-food-banks-and-food-insecurity-insights-from-canada/