Grassroots to produce

New P.E.I. Community Fridge emphasizes mutual aid

Sandra Sunil and her family started to notice food insecurity in P.E.I. when they were hosting community meals.

They run 4S Catering and a non-profit in Charlottetown called 4 Love 4 Care that provides a free monthly meal and other community services. People who attended the meal told them about the need in P.E.I. for different food aid options.

Options like a monthly food box that included fresh food led to waste for some, while others didn’t have the time or resources to prepare healthy food.

In November of 2020, the family had the idea for a 24/7 free community fridge.

“We wanted to plan this around community supporting community and reduce the stigmatization of food aid as well,” Sunil said. “So, this fridge is for everyone.”

The fridge, which is in Charlottetown, is housed in a structure built for free by Colonel Gray students, while volunteers paid for materials. Anyone in the community can come and take what they need, give what they can or volunteer their time, Sandra said.

FAMILY PROJECT

The whole thing began as a family project, said Sandra’s mother, Sheena Mathew, explaining how Sandra’s brother, Samel, really pushed for it.

“He’s the one who said, ‘why don’t we do this, mama? So people can get food (everyday).”

For his part, Samel gave the credit right back to his sister and mother, saying it’s a family thing.

No matter where the idea came from, those involved are working to fight food insecurity but also to change the conversation around charity and mutual aid.

“With charity, you have one group or person giving and another group or person receiving. And this fridge is not like that,” Sandra said.

“Anyone can take from the fridge, and there’s so many ways to contribute back to the community through this and other initiatives.”

People can volunteer, donate food or money, spread the word or even start community gardens, she said.

“It’s just a cycle, and no one’s being that one person that’s giving. This is for the community, so it’s give and take.”

FIRST STEPS

After the idea, came homework – lots of homework, Sandra said.

“That’s just the researching, contacting everyone, making sure everything was solid, like the logistics were solid.” Then came the location. “That’s the main challenge we had, to find the place,” Mathew said.

Luckily, they found Jerry Heartz and the Parkdale Sherwood Lions Club.

It was an idea he didn’t know much about, but after some looking around online, he liked it.

“With the way things are right now, there is definitely a need,” he said, noting what seems like an increase in unhoused people around Charlottetown.

“You’re starting to see more and more of the need.”

While some club members were skeptical at first, people got on board quickly after a well-prepared presentation from Sandra answered their questions. Then, the project just made sense, Heartz said.

“All they’re looking for from us really is somewhere to put it.”

BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER

With a location selected at the Parkdale Sherwood Lions Club parking lot, it was time to put together a committee of 12 people, Sandra said.

“This project, where we are right now, it’s because of that community support and community involvement.”

Committee member Barb McDowell agrees there is a need for initiatives like the P.E.I. Community Fridge in P.E.I.

“This seems like the perfect place to try it out and expand provincially, Islandwide,” she said. “It is such a way to demonstrate the power of community and how it can be developed and how we can look after each other, (in a way) that is dignified, has no stigma attached to it (and) is not charity-led.”

McDowell is also involved with the Charlottetown Garden Sharing Initiative, an organization that connects people who want to garden but have no space, with those who do have space and want to help others garden.

Organizations like that and the community fridge can help drive conversations around community and creativity, along with more concrete issues like soil health and what it takes to nurture communities.

“I think we are only limited by our creativity, and I think our creativity is expanding exponentially.”

With most of the work now done, the Community Fridge is hoping to open on Aug. 1.

“People are really keen (to be) involved, signing up to volunteer, and they’re spreading the word, which is what we want because we want this to reach as many people as possible,” Sandra said.

“This is by them and for them.”