Here's where to find a community fridge or pantry in Ottawa
The rising cost of food has hit many hard, but for those already on a strict budget, there’s a community fridge and pantry to turn to.
Just in front of the Parkdale Food Centre is a colourful box, which at first glance looks almost like a shed. Open the doors, and you’ll find a fridge and pantry.
“Basically, we run it by the rule of ‘take what you need, leave what you can,’” says Megan Aubin, Ottawa Community Food Partnership Coordinator. “It’s not policed, so anyone can access it. It’s open 24/7 and it’s free food, essentially. That’s the main thing with it.”
Aubin says there are regular users and it empties quickly.
“We fill it three to four times a day, and pretty much as soon as it’s filled, it’s emptied. People do donate to it once in a while, but primarily we are filling it up ourselves,” she says.
“With the rise in food costs, I can’t afford to go to the grocery store and buy, let’s say a chicken,” says community fridge and pantry user, Troy Stewart.
Stewart, who also works part-time at the Parkdale Food Centre, helping others make the most of their groceries, is on the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and says he makes every dollar count.
“You’ve got places that are raising the rent, but you’re not getting any extra money for help, so where’s the money coming from? It comes from your food budget, ‘cause you have to pay your other bills.”
He says he relies on services like the Ottawa Food Bank, the Parkdale Food Centre, and friends for groceries.
“This is becoming a hard reality for everybody that is at or below the poverty line, and it’s scary.”
A second outdoor community fridge and pantry opened in October on MacLaren Street, just west of Bank Street. Organizers of that location tell CTV News Ottawa that churches, the community, restaurants, grocery stores, and individuals stock it.
The community fridge and pantry on MacLaren Street. (Peter Szperling/CTV News Ottawa)
A sign inside the fridge says, “Open to all residents of Centretown. Take what you need, leave some for others.”
The Ottawa Community Food Partnership has several indoor community fridges and pantries throughout the city.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America announced after 114 years that it will change its name and will become Scouting America in an effort to emphasize inclusion as it works to move past the turmoil of bankruptcy and a flood of sexual abuse claims.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.