Do I need to be referred to you?
No, you don’t need a referral. You can simply decide to come along to any of our open sessions and our volunteers will help you on the day. We won’t ask for any paperwork or identification.
How do I get my code to come to you?
You don’t need a code. We are open to everyone. Just bring yourself and a bag!
I’m not ‘in need’. Can I still come?
Yes, of course! We are an environmental initiative that exists to reduce food waste.
Please don’t think of it as taking away from people in need, because our only aim is to save food being wasted. A nice side benefit is that some of our food is rescued by people who would recognise that they are in food poverty, but we are open to everyone. If you feel you have to justify taking the food, you can always pop some pennies in our collection bucket
What food do you have?
The food we have available depends on what surplus items volunteers have collected from local shops and supermarkets.
Generally, we have a good selection of bread, fresh items like fruit, vegetables and potatoes, and a selection of frozen items.
Sometimes we also have cut flowers.
How much can I take?
Each Fridge has their own local guidelines based on availability of products. We do limit the amount of items you can take to make sure it is fair for everyone attending. For example, you might be able to take 5 items plus bread, plus any ‘specials’ that we have lots of during the session.
Where are you?
Fare Divide CIC runs 4 Fridges in the local area: Littlehampton, Horsham, Henfield and BN44. Check their pages for the addresses of permanent and pop up locations and opening times.
We have signage and volunteers at each location to make it easy for you to find us.
I can’t get to you. Can you deliver?
No, we don’t have the resources to offer a delivery service.
Will I have to queue?
Yes, most of our Fridges do have a queue. Volunteers monitor the queue and will let you know when it’s your turn.
We discourage people from turning up too early because it simply means having to stand for longer before we open. While arriving later might mean there is a reduced selection of food to choose from, volunteers do their best to make sure that there is choice throughout the session.
How are you different from a food bank?
Food banks are vital for an increasing number of people. People are usually referred to food banks as an emergency stop gap solution. Generally non-perishable food items are given out, and food bank users are not always at liberty to choose what they eat, although each food parcel is tailored to each household’s needs.
Community Fridges exist to reduce food waste and foster a spirit of sharing and mutual support within a community. They are often open more regularly and offer a source of fresh good quality food surplus for everyone.
In many cases the most frequent items moving through the fridge are fruit and veg. They operate on a trust basis and are not means tested.
How are you funded?
We’re funded from grants and private donations. You can read more about how we operate here.
How do you manage food safety?
We take food safety very seriously. Read more about our approach to ensuring all our food is good to eat on our Managing Food Safety page.