Tavy Fridge, a community fridge project that collects surplus food and gives it away for free, is celebrating the success of the project as they welcome in the New Year.

Alison Knight, community connector for LiveWest and steering group member, said: ‘Tavistock as a town have been amazing, people understand why we are doing this and support the project either by volunteering or by using the project or even by donating homegrown fruit and vegetables. However, this wouldn’t be possible without our 30 volunteers, steering group, Libraries Unlimited and the support of local shops and businesses.’

Tavy Fridge began in March 2020 and has around 45 people a day using the project. It has had positive feedback from customers. One mum said she and her daughter often stop at the project and her daughter picks up a piece of fruit to eat at the park. Another customer mentioned it was great to pick up some fresh vegetables for free to add to their dinner!

It is not like a shop as the supplies are not predictable, varying according to what food is donated by local markets and shops.

Alison added: ‘We generally receive a wide range of items, our donations are varied but the hope is that people will take advantage of the free food and find new ways of using ingredients and experimenting with different vegetables. We are not a foodbank. Our aim is to reduce unnecessary food waste. To encourage this we share a range of recipes for surplus or left over food on our Facebook page ‘Tavy Fridge’.

Sarah Cooper of Tavy Fridge Steering Group said: ‘During 2021 we distributed 19,632 kg of food and saved 62,720 kg of CO2 by stopping this food going into landfill.

‘It is also important to encourage people to consider their own food waste and in a survey of customers and supporters carried out earlier in the year, 78% said they had been trying to reduce their own food waste.

‘Probably the most thrown out foods are potatoes and bread so not buying too much and using more carefully would stop this waste. Cooked potatoes can be used for potato salad or bubble and squeak and slightly stale bread can be used for bread and butter pudding, toast or croutons for soup.’

Denise Gatley, first assistant at Tavistock Library and steering group member, said: ‘It is great having this project situated in the foyer of the library, and it is a perfect addition to the vibrant range of activities we already have going on. The library feels like an active, vibrant community. We also see some of the people who volunteer or visit the community fridge now regularly using the library. It is also important to say, we are really grateful to the local shops and supermarkets that support this project; Tesco, Lidl, Co-op and Continental Fruits, and also Trudy Scrumptious.’

Founding volunteer Jean Batchelor added: ‘We all need a helping hand. I wish I had this sort of help when I was younger. And in a small way we are also protecting the world and the environment.’

This project was set up with start up funding of £1,000 from housing association LiveWest. Alison Knight, from LiveWest, added: ‘This is part of our broader programme to invest in local communities in a way that benefits our customers and the wider community.’

There are a number of other towns and villages who have been inspired by this project and are now trying to set up their own community fridges, including one in the Tamar Valley, which will be situated at the Co-op, Drakewalls.

Alex Kittow, chief executive of Libraries Unlimited, said: ‘This is just one illustration of how libraries continue to play such a central role in our communities.’