How to use community fridges in Halifax, Dartmouth

Do:

• Donate fresh produce, vegetables and ingredients that are easy to use
  Schennery said fruit usually gets taken quickly at the Halifax fridge.

• Keep the season and weather in mind
  Leafy greens with high water content can be great for the summer, but don’t always hold up well in cold temperatures, Fernandez said. Conversely, items with chocolate will melt in the summer.

• Give easy-to-prepare and comforting food
  Frozen meals are popular at the Halifax fridge, Schennery said. Granola bars are another simple item.

• Donate menstrual products
  Pads, tampons, cups are always needed year-round.

• Keep an eye on and visit each fridge’s social media pages
  Different fridges may have different donation requirements, and these can be updated throughout the year.

• Give whenever you want
  There are no set times for you to drop items. The fridge is open 24-7 and people will come and go. 

Don’t:

• Drop off expired, open, leftover or old food
  “If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t donate it,” Schennery said. 

• Give anything that could cause harm
  This includes items like razors, mouthwash, hand sanitizer and alcohol-based solutions.

• Police who is taking from the fridge or how much
  “You never really know the whole story,” said Fernandez.

• Leave safe-sex items like condoms
  Condoms need to be kept at room temperature.

• Donate items held in cans or glass containers during the winter, or at least avoid it
  Canned goods and glass can freeze and break. If you do give these types of items, put it in the fridge and not the pantry to prevent it from freezing.

• Give food you made, unless it’s from a commercial kitchen
  If you do prepare food, ensure every ingredient and the packaging date are clearly labeled. Food should be in food-safe — meaning plastic and tightly sealed — containers, said Schennery.