We are fundraising to enable Albrighton Community Fridge to continue to support those facing food insecurity this year.

Throughout the COVID pandemic and resulting government lockdowns, volunteers at Albrighton Community Fridge worked tirelessly seven days a week, with incredible support from a huge number of retailers and wholesalers, individual members of public, local schools, community organisations, businesses, mutual aid groups, and a whole host of others, who provided food and monetary donations. With this incredible support we were able to expand the Community Fridge service to provide food for more than 2500 people per week.

The hope was that the Community Fridge would see a return to its pre-COVID levels or something close to it. However, we now face a cost of living crisis The effects have hit us all, but as is always the case, those in greatest need have the least resilience and the lowest incomes. This now very much includes people in work as well as people in receipt of benefits.

For some time, the Community Fridge has also been supporting growing numbers coming to the UK who are fleeing crisis and war in their own countries, particularly from Afghanistan and Ukraine, but with others too from other parts of the globe. There has been much press coverage recently about our flawed immigration system and the extreme waits faced by those already here, and those waiting to come. Application processing and registering for documentation to enable people to find work is an incredibly lengthy process for many with little or no access to Government support.

Some who visit the Community Fridge may just need a small top up to help them get by, but as the weeks and months roll on, we often see this small top up needing to grow as utility costs and the cost of food sharply rise. Others come to us with nothing at all and are in need much more help. Increasingly we are seeing people who have no refrigeration or cooking facilities, either because they can no longer afford their electricity supply, or in other cases where their accommodation does not permit cookers or fridges.

Albrighton Community Fridge relies on the kindness and generosity of your donations to provide food support. If you can, help us to support others.