Meet the Volunteer... Loz Ferrin

Each edition we will be meeting a volunteer from our community. This time we are focussing on Abbey Centre Community Fridge, which is a locally based food project. The Parish Council first became involved when we were approached by founding member, Loz Ferrin, who was looking for a location for the project, and partners.

We were delighted to be able to link the Fridge team with our friends at The Abbey Centre, and to help to promote the facility to our local community. In this edition of your parish magazine, we have asked Loz to tell us a bit more about her project.

Hi Loz – can you tell us, what are the aims of the Fridge Project?

To reduce food waste by saving short date perishable food from supermarkets and local businesses/households which would otherwise go to landfill. This food is then redistributed within the local community over 3 sessions each week.

We are not a food bank. A food bank provides emergency food (usually non-perishable items) to those in crisis and is means tested. The community fridge is about reducing food waste and is open to everyone.

We are seeing more and more projects like this, how did you personally become interested in the issue of food waste?

I was volunteering at a food bank and began researching what else was available in the local area. I came across an article about community fridges which appealed to me as I wanted to do something to help the environment.

How does the Fridge operate? Can anyone come? Do people pay?

You can just turn up for one or all of the sessions. Anyone can come. Pop along to one or all of the sessions. We operate on a first come, first served basis until all food has been redistributed, or until the session ends. The amount of food we receive varies from session to session so food may be limited to ensure there is enough for everyone. A volunteer will guide you round. We charge a £1 entry fee to help with overheads.

Where do you get the food from? Can individuals donate food to you?

We collect food from local businesses. We also accept donations from allotments, gardens and households (restrictions apply)

Some people might be worried that food is going out of date? But the food is still fit for consumption?

The food is short dated but still fit for consumption.

We follow your Facebook Page avidly – it seems that a lot of people like to share recipe tips and good ideas?

We have a great selection of recipes that have been shared i.e. pizza, soup, sauces, bread and butter pudding, sweet potato fries, garlic bread, coleslaw, banana bread.

We know that you have some amazing volunteers –what do they mean to the project?

The volunteers are the backbone of this project. They help with food collections, cleaning and setting up sessions and most importantly greeting everyone with a friendly welcome.

How do they contact you?

Email: abbeycentrecommunityfridge@gmail.com

When can people come to the fridge?

Tuesday 10.30-12.00, Wednesday 16.00-17.30 and Friday 10.30-12.00

And finally – we can’t let you go without saying what’s your favourite thing to make with food from the Fridge?

Pasta sauce!

Preventing good quality food going to waste

Why not pop along to one of our community fridge sessions to see what you can save from landfill. The fridge is free and open to all. Helping to save the planet and supporting people in the local community.

Opening times:

Tues 10:30 - 12:00, Wed 16:00 - 17:30, Fri 10:30 - 12:00

Where to find us: The Abbey Centre, 10 Overslade Close, East Hunsbury, Northampton, NN4 0RZ