In April 2023 West Byfleet Community Fridge was established, joining a network of other local Fridges located in Addlestone, Knaphill and Maybury. The West Byfleet Fridge is located in the Cornerstone area of St John’s church. 

 

One of the founder volunteers, Amanda, explained “a Community Fridge is a simple solution to wasting less through the sharing of good quality food.” The Fridge helps to reduce food waste, which in turn has a positive impact on the environment, and provides surplus food for the residents of West Byfleet and the surrounding areas.  

 

The Fridge is open to all comers and food is collected on a first come, first served basis, although the volunteers do ask everyone to only take the food that their family will use, so that as many people as possible can benefit from the service. No vouchers or criteria are required, making it different from a food bank. In total around 255 people visit the fridge per month and 630kg of food is distributed. 

 

The Fridge has an amazing team of over 30 volunteers, including members of the St John’s church congregation and also other members of the community. Food is collected by the volunteers on Friday evenings from local supermarkets, including multiple Co-ops and Tesco, and sorted back at the Cornerstone.  

 

The Fridge does not take any food with used by dates but does allow food that has a best before date that is about to expire. Examples of produce that the fridge does accept are bread and pastries, cooked meats and fish, salads, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, honey, jams, cand foods, coffee and tea. Items the fridge can’t accept include raw meat, raw fish, energy drinks and alcohol! 

 

The Fridge is open on Saturdays for the public to visit, opening at 10am with most food being snapped up before 11am. It’s not unusual to see a long queue waiting for the Fridge to open. If any food is left over it is displayed for the church congregation to take on Sunday morning.