In November we distributed over a tonne through the Fridge side. This means that for the 11 months this year we have distributed 8,8 tonnes.

Thank you to everybody who has visited the Community Fridge for helping us to avoid food waste.

Forest Row Community Fridge Foodbank are bidding for a cash boost from the Tesco Community Grants initiative. Tesco works with community charity Groundwork to run its community funding scheme, which sees grants of up to £1,500, £1,000 and £500 awarded to local community projects.
Three groups in every community have been shortlisted to receive the cash award and shoppers are being invited to head along to Tesco stores to vote for who they think should take away the top grant.

Forest Row Community Fridge Foodbank is one of the groups on the shortlist.

Forest Row Community Fridge Foodbank supports households in need in Forest Row and surrounding villages, the majority of the food is donated by local supermarkets and individuals however the supply often does not meet the need and the foodbank relies on grant funding to purchase much needed additional food and household cleaning products. The food bank also needs additional to make additional refurbishments to replace the door, water heater and flooring to improve the overall hygiene in the extension to the original Community fridge space. Since opening in February 2019 the community fridge and foodbank have redistributed nearly 50 ton of food that would otherwise been destined for incineration, composting or landfill.

With your help we can continue to provide this vital service to members of the community. We really cant do this without your help so please vote for Forest Row Community Fridge Foodbank and help us make a difference to those in need.

We are starting to collect items for our foodbank clients to put into their hampers, this year we need the following items. If you would like to help please purchase and drop off to the fridge on Mondays between 7:30am – 12:30pm or purchase in the coop and leave behind the till for one of our volunteers to collect.

Thank you on behalf of our foodbank clients for your support.

Large Christmas puddings

Vegan chocolate

Chocolates and sweets

Seasonal snacks

Soup – vegetable, tomato, vegan

Mincemeat – for making mince pies

Christmas cakes – large, medium, small & vegan

Mixed nuts – out of the shell

Cat & Dog food – tins & dry

Family games – suitable for 6yrs+

Tinned Salmon, Tuna, pork, corned beef, chicken

Fray Bentos pies & puddings

Biscuits for cheese & pate

Shortbread biscuits

Family selection chocolate biscuits

Toys for pets

Toys or puzzles for children aged 2 upwards.

Toiletries gift packs for ladies, gents & teenage boys & girls

All items must be new, we are not able to accept second hand toys/gifts

Our Foodbank is lucky to have been chosen to be this years community cause. Please download the Co-op app and choose Forest Row Community Fridge Foodbank as your cause this year. Every pound you spend raises funds for your chosen local cause.

https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes/55478

Thank you from your community fridge foodbank team

BREAKING NEWS
The community fridge and foodbank have today reaches the 40 Ton mark of food given out!
This food would have otherwise been destined for composting or landfill

Congratulations to all our volunteers who collect and distribute this food to people in need in the community and also those of you who like us want to reduce food waste.

THANK YOU

foodwaste #food #s #foodbank #CommunityFridge #communityfridges #ZeroWaste #zerowastesussex #zerowasteforestrow

A massive thank you to From Earth To Earth for the box of bamboo toothbrushes which will be sent out tomorrow with the foodbank boxes. Even though our clients are facing hard times they still would like to do their bit for the environment. We are happy to be able to be able to do this by giving out food that would otherwise be destined for incineration or land fill but also by giving them items like these toothbrushes kindly donated today but also sustainable ladies sanitary products.

So THANK YOU to everyone who are helping us to help others.

apps.apple.com/gb/app/co-op-membership-rewards/id1473611046

We need your help, there is currently just over £1200 worth of community funding unallocated from the Co-op, please help us to help families, the elderly and people in need in the community by downloading the co-op membership app and selecting Forest Row Community Fridge as your charity. Every time you swipe your loyalty card at the till, you get money added to your card and we also will get a percentage of your total shop.

Please get as many people as possible to do the same as we really do need all the help we can get to keep this vital service going.

Coop Membership

Are you faced with deciding on paying your bills or buying food?

Do you live in Forest Row, Ashurst Wood, or Sharpthorne? If so we can help…

Please call Sue on 07745576023 to talk about how the Community Fridge Food Bank can help you at this time.

If you would like to donate to the Fridges Food Bank we need the following items:

Coleman’s packet casserole mixes, multi packs of crisps, tinned meat, tinned pies and puddings, tinned sweetcorn, baked beans, tinned spaghetti, chicken tonight sauces in jars, healthy nut free snacks for children’s lunch boxes, dog food in tins, dog treats, shampoo, shower gel, non bio washing powder, toilet rolls, bleach and anti bacterial surface cleaner. If you would like to donate any of these items please call Sue on 07745576023 or alternatively purchase the items in the Co-op Forest Row and leave with the staff at the counter who will pass them onto the Community Fridge later on in the day.

Please remember to download the Co-op app and add the Community Fridge as your charity and co-op will then give the fridge a donation later in the year.

Thank you for your support.

Sue, Jo & Ros your community fridge team.

We would like to say a massive thank you to the following people who made our christmas appeal possible:

All of the staff and customers at the
Co-op in Forest Row and Tom at Crawley Down

Narinder Bains & Lisa Friends WaitroseEast Grinstead

Aldi East Grinstead

Tablehurst Farm

Chrissie Johnson

Amber’s Buttons

Hannah and the parents Robins Nest Kindergarten Forest Row
Who not only donated beautiful gifts for the families and elderly but also took on the challenge yesterday to help an additional 25 families from Imberhorne school 👏🎄

Peter Jo Jo Malkin who has worked tirelessly with our volunteers to collect the food donations and also packing the crates of food to go out each week.

Susie Kemp for the donation of Christmas trees and lights

And Forest Row Community for your generosity which has made it possible for our 29 households have a super Christmas.

Iaia who volunteers at Repair Cafe Forest Row

I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone but if I have Thank You

Merry Christmas everyone and we hope to open our doors once again in January 2021
🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄