Keep these things in mind:
Ayyamittu Unn It's everyone's fridge here.
We are making it easier than ever for people to share and receive the food they need, by installing community fridges across the neighbourhood. We named the project "Ayyamittu Unn" which translates to "share the food with the needy before you eat". The fridges are accessible to anyone and everyone.
With each fridge feeding 100 - 120 people every day, the collective impact of the Community Fridge Network is huge.
Our Fridges
- ensure everyone has equitable access to healthy food.
- bring communities together over a collective food sharing experience.
- serve as an avenue to store surplus food for the deserved.
- reduce methane emissions from landfills & lower carbon footprint.
- help individuals lower their food bill, giving them a way to save money.
How We Work Our Solution To Combat Food Waste
- Sealed water bottles, juices
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Packaged food within the use-by date
- Home cooked food only if it is neatly packed
- Cooked food from registered food businesses
- Biscuits & Baked goods*
- Dry snacks
- Tin & canned food
- Raw meat, raw seafood and raw eggs
- Opened milk or other packaged food
- Half-eaten food
- Any food previously frozen
- Any cooked food not from a registered food business*
- Alcohol
- Food past its use-by or expiry date
- Rotten fruits, vegetables
- Read the guidelines on what food the fridge accepts
- Pack them neatly in disposable food packets
- Entum estibulum dignissim posuere.
- Mark the correct use-by date on the food packets.
- Log your donations in the notebook available at the counter.
- Dump food items in the fridge on large scale.
- Pack the food items in newspapers, old pet bottles, steel containers or plastic carry bags.
- Leave unworthy items like broken toys, torn clothes on the charity counter.
- If you wouldn’t eat it and you wouldn’t use it, don’t drop it off.
A doable solution to both food insecurity and food waste
As Featured In This Is Our Story
Awards Our Trophy Shelf Contains
- Change Maker Award
- Inspiration of Chennai
- Covid Warriors Award
- Social Idea of the Year
- Award for Social Responsibility
- Stars of Covid
- India’s Covid Soldiers Award
- Pride Of Humanity
Our Locations Where To Find Us
Tamil Nadu
Karnataka
(*) Fridge with Charity Counter
(+) Food Pantry
Frequently Asked Questions
How to start a community fridge in your neighbourhood
Location and accessibility are the most important factors to consider. It’s important to research your area and find a location that serves the most people in need.
Keep these things in mind:The location must have access to a reliable electrical outlet.
The fridge should be easily visible to the public. Avoid placing them behind locked gates or inside buildings.
The area should be easy to access for people of varying abilities, not upstairs or in tight or cramped spaces. It shouldn't block public access, either.
Keep these things in mind:
What are the ways you can donate food?
a. Direct food donation – You can leave food at any of our community fridges. Click here to locate the closest fridge.
b. Indirect food donation – You can order food through the e-commerce site to get it delivered to our office. We can place the food in the fridge for you!
b. Indirect food donation – You can order food through the e-commerce site to get it delivered to our office. We can place the food in the fridge for you!
What are the ways to get involved in the organisation?
Depending on your time, availability, and skill set, you can
Donate food or supplies to the fridge
Engage in social media outreach and post about the fridge using its specific tags
Help paint and decorate the fridge
Graphically design posters, or put up flyers
Volunteer to help with cleaning the fridge or technical fridge maintenance
Offer transportation to help collect larger donations and bring them back to the location
- Organise events and fundraisers to support the fridge and the local community
- Help in local outreach for donors and local fridge promotion.
What are the responsibilities of a community fridge caretaker?
The caretakers are responsible for the daily checking of food, cleaning and temperature monitoring of the fridge. They maintain fridge hygiene standards and ensure unsafe food is disposed of responsibly.
