A FRIDGE THAT BRIDGES THE GAP

A community refrigerator set up by residents of a Mumbai suburb is making sure that at least 100 fewer people go to bed hungry every night.

Dr Kshitij Mehta, Secretary of Versova Welfare Association

The Versova Welfare Association in Mumbai was started in 1962. At the time, the area was full of military camps and hardly anything was available. People used to collect food grain from outside and distribute it in the camp. This hardship prompted the creation of the Association.

It initially started a school because there was no school in area at the time and children had to commute long distances. It was named the Versova Welfare Association High School. Over the years, we conducted several activities including medical camps, English classes and ambulance services, among others. The members wanted to foray into other initiatives and this was when our president, Gopal Hegde, suggested setting up a “community fridge”. We had heard about a similar initiative started in Kochi, where the fridge was kept opposite a restaurant and stored only leftover food from there. We also had heard about the success of the project and wanted to replicate the it in our locality but in a more innovative way.

Food is something that everybody wants and needs, two to three times a day. People can manage to wear the same clothes for a week, but it’s not the same with food. We felt a community fridge would help feed the needy and the hungry. We were not too sure how to go about it but set up our first fridge in January this year. Our aim was not only to feed beggars, but anyone who was hungry.

Initially, we found it difficult to get donations because of lack of awareness. A few members started putting in10-15 packets of food daily that we cooked ourselves. Through WhatsApp messages, we started appealing to people to contribute.

More than donations, our main motive was to spread awareness about not wasting food. Whenever there are parties or gatherings at people’s homes or restaurants, a lot of food ends up going in the dustbin or down the drain.

Our motto is “Towards dignified living”. We believe that any person should be able to open the fridge without asking because eating two to three meals a day is everyone’s right. Asking would amount to begging. A needy person can just opens the fridge and takes what is required and nothing more.

In the first couple of weeks, only beggars used the fridge. Once word spread that there was good quality food and not leftovers, people including sweepers, postmen, courier boys and rickshaw drivers started availing of the facility.

After a month, the donations became steady. Some kept packets of food in the fridge while those who did not have the resources or time to keep cooked food in the fridge started sending in monetary contributions. While sending in their contribution, they would make it clear that the money is to be used for purchase of food to be kept in the fridge and this is strictly adhered to by the committee members of the association. 

After some media coverage, people from all over the city found out about us and more such community fridges sprung up in other areas. We have to say in all humility that almost all those community fridges installed in the various localities in the city did consult us for some kind of guidance in installing the community fridge.

We have two people handling the daily operations because a few people wouldn’t know how to open the fridge or sometimes when there is too much food, the food is systematically distributed in bowls. The fridge is open 24x7.

We store only vegetarian food. Several nearby restaurants and caterers donate regularly. Now, we feed around 100 people on a daily basis. A woman who had heard about this donated 11 kg of laddoos after her husband’s bypass surgery went off successfully. There are similar such instances. Members often help get the food picked up even at odd hours in case the donor is unable to come in person.

People from other places have approached us for help in setting up their own community fridges. Our endeavour is to spread the message and expand the initiative across the country. I’m proud that our association helps in satisfying one of the three basic necessities of life, even in a small way.

We spoke to some of the beneficiaries. Here are their stories:

Rashmi: I live alone on the street and pick up garbage from the area. I am dependent on the community fridge for my daily means. Before it came into existence, I used to earn some money, buy alcohol and a little food. Since the fridge was set up, I am assured of proper meals.

The food gets over really fast but there is never a shortage because someone else will come and keep more food. The caretakers are kind and helpful. They only ask questions if someone takes many packets at once as they feel it will deprive someone else. However, they tell us that we are welcome to take more food when we get hungry again.

Anita Narayan: I live in a hut and the community fridge is the best thing to have happened to me. My husband drinks every night and refuses to give me money to run the house and take care of the children. We used to starve earlier as there was very little food to eat. Only a mother would understand what it feels like not to be able to feed her children. Now, I am able to give them nutritious and good quality food.

Sagar: I live in a small hut near Versova beach with my parents and grandmother. We recently moved here from our village in Chhattisgarh in search of work. Luckily for us, the fridge has been here since the day we arrived. We depend on it for our entire family’s daily meals. Chinese food and ice-cream are my favourites.

AS TOLD TO MEHA DEDHIA