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
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members and honoured her late mother during separate ceremonies Sunday in Victoria as she wrapped up a three-day British Columbia West Coast royal visit.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
As storms moves across Texas, 1 child dies after being swept away in floodwaters
A child in Texas died Sunday after being swept away in floodwaters as storms swept across the state.
Nylander defends Leafs' core after playoff exit, Toronto again picks up the pieces
The Maple Leafs battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories - including one that required extra time - in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss.