COMMUNITY fridges across the conurbation have been distributing record amounts of food in order to keep up with the demand during the coronavirus pandemic.

Projects in Townsend, Branksome and Boscombe have had to adjust their usual operating standards, but have also expanded their procedures by working with businesses to provide hot meals and deliveries.

The Townsend Community Fridges has been creating daily lists of residents who have requested help with accessing food and have been supporting people by making up food parcels and delivering to their doorstep.

In March, the community fridge redistributed nearly four and a half tonnes of surplus food.

“Our team is picking up and distributing two to three tonnes of surplus and donated food per week

Community Development Officer for BCP Council Caroline Green said: “We have recently extended the Fridge Project and have started to make hot meals once a week.

“Friday April 24 was our first attempt and we received some really positive feedback. We made 25 meals and offered a meat or vegetarian option.

“The cooks are local residents who put themselves forward to help their community, the couple used to run a restaurant so well equipped for the pressure of cooking for a larger number of people.”

The community fridge is also receiving support from Pizza Hut to collect hot, cooked pizzas from their restaurant twice a week, as well as charities The Friendly Food Club, YMCA Townsend Children’s Project and Hope For Food in providing cook bags and delivering surplus food.

Branksome Community Fridge, working out of Branksome Library, have been doing 20 collections of surplus food a week from local businesses and supermarkets who would rather see edible food eaten rather than sent to landfill.

Branksome Community Fridge Lead Coordinator Cllr Millie Earl said: “Our volunteers have been absolutely incredible and have risen to the challenge of helping people access quality food.

“We have been making care packages for people who really need them from surplus for NHS staff, carers, key workers and individuals and families who are isolating and struggling to get a delivery slot and families in need.

“We have been working with BCP Bulk Food Donations network to donate any leftover food to charities across such as local Foodbanks and Poole Community Exchange, who we have been partnering with, to make sure that people have access to enough food during the lockdown."

Boscombe Community Fridge, which has been operating since 2017, has teamed up with Grounded Community to launch 'Feed our Community' project during the Covid-19 crisis.

Although the closure of Boscombe library in March meant that the area’s community fridge also had to shut its doors, the Boscombe Community Fridge has continued to feed around 600 people every week who have self-isolated, have lost their jobs or have difficulties accessing food.

Jenny Mueller, who runs the Boscombe Community Fridge said: “Our team is picking up and distributing two to three tonnes of surplus and donated food per week, from supermarkets and Lovechurch at St Clement's Church.

“To make this possible, we needed to find a new venue and a bigger vehicle. Amazingly, Urban Shanti Community offered us their Yoga Studio and David Haines from Namaste Developments lent us his van.

“Meanwhile, the Grounded Community team are planting and growing in Boscombe, which will provide fresh produce as the year continues, in the hope that the 'Feed our Community' project will help meet local food security needs in the short and longer term.”