Community kitchen in Dartmouth, N.S., tries to meet rising demand for food

CTV News

a day ago

The Dartmouth Community Fridge is in need of donations and is hoping its neighbours can help.
The Dartmouth Community Fridge opened around three years ago. Since then, the facility and the demand for donations, has grown.
Volunteer Christene Nottegar says the fridge was started by a woman who wanted to help neighbours who were struggling with the cost of food. The fridge and pantry are open 24-7 and there are no restrictions for anybody.
'We accept perishable food that can be put in the fridge or freezer or things that need to go in the pantry,' Nottegar says. She asks that all donations be within best before dates, sealed, packaged and labelled.
'And that it's something that you would eat yourself,' she says.
In addition to the pantry, the community fridge added a garden with the help of several grants last year.
'We were able to start planting some vegetables and things that we harvest and then we put it in the fridge,' Nottegar says.
In addition to food donations, Nottegar says volunteers buy groceries with the money that's donated.
'There is a regular supply through the day but there's just so much need right now in the community that it is often empty,' she says.
The rising cost of food is responsible for the increased demand, says Nottegar. She says people are looking for the essentials like milk, bread and eggs.
'It really has gotten busier and busier and I think that more and more people rely on it.'
The Dartmouth Community Fridge is located at 61 Dundas Street in downtown Dartmouth.
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