The Orillia Community Fridge project at St. Paul's Centre is helping take the chill out of food insecurity.
The fridge, freezer, and pantry located outside the Peter Street North church in downtown Orillia is stocked daily with fresh and healthy food. Those facing food insecurity can access it any at time.
Orillia Community Fridge committee member Myles Odlozinski says the project has been going "really well" since it was installed last month.
"We've had some really great donations to the fridge," he explained. "It's been good to see the fridge get full but then at the end of the day it's getting used."
Odlozinski, 17, says community members and local businesses donate items daily. The Sharing Place Food Centre has also been supplying the fridge when they have excess food, he explained.
"I'm very thankful for all the people who have helped us," he said. "It's been great to see the impact."
The Orillia Secondary School graduate says the project aims to remove the stigma around food insecurity. Everyone is free to take what they need without any questions being asked.
"It allows people to feel more secure about accessing food services," he said.
Odlozinski says community fridge projects can be found all across the province and it's a "great way" to tackle hunger.
He expects the project to become more important for the vulnerable population as the Christmas season approaches.
"The holiday season is a great time to give," he said. "Food security is only getting worse."
According to a Dietitians in Public Health stat from 2022, one in four children suffer from food insecurities and 25 per cent of parents are skipping meals.
"Especially when the weather turns colder, people are going to need extra support,' Odlozinski said. "That's why it's important to have that spirit of giving."
While stocking the fridge himself, Odlozinski has been approached by some participants of the community fridge who have thanked him for the support.
"People have told me how much they really appreciate it," he said. "We've even had a person who used to be on the receiving end of these kinds of supports come to donate. It was a full-circle moment."
Donations of produce and non-perishable items are accepted at the fridge at any time. Because of health unit restrictions, the fridge can't accept egg-based or dairy products.
For more information about the fridge or to make a monetary donation, click here.
To volunteer with stocking or cleaning the fridge, you can contact Odlozinski by email at [email protected]
