Community Fridge

This is situated in a purpose built wooden cabinet behind the church, clearly visible from Leytonstone High Road and accessible via a gate facing the pavement.

Opening times: Friday/Saturday/Sunday at noon - until the food runs out.

The Community Fridge is a Transition Leytonstone project. The Fridge project provides users with good quality surplus food that would otherwise have been binned. The food is donated by a range of local businesses of all sizes, and individuals. The range of foods is wide culturally, and includes bakery, ambient, fresh produce, drinks and chilled food including meat, dairy and vegan. There is no charge for the food, although donations are always welcome.

Unlike a conventional food bank, the main aim here is to reduce food waste. While food banks never offer ambient food that is over the Best Before date, the Fridge does. Best Before is safe to eat, although quality may be slightly impaired. See the Food Standards Agency information.

The Fridge is part of the Hubbub Community Fridge Network. So far over 50 Community Fridges have been set up across the UK, helping thousands connect to their communities, whilst accessing nutritious food and reducing waste. A further 50 are planned by the end of 2020.

Volunteers are always welcome.

"I just popped over to see what's going on. I had a feeling it's some sort of set up for either a charity or helping other people less fortunate. I was raised with nothing and remember having to go to food banks, I just want to let you know. I will spread the word so nothing goes to waste. It's a good thing for the community. I have friends in hostels that would appreciate it." (a Fridge user)