Solidarity refrigerators, a Spanish network across the country. In neighborhoods, those with leftover food drop it off, and those in need pick it up (photo)

SOLIDARITY REFRIGERATORS IN SPAIN

The mechanism is very simple. In a neighborhood, a group of residents or an association decide to open a subscription to create a solidarity refrigerator. That is, a real refrigerator where all citizens can deposit perfectly edible food (advanced or close to expiring) which the poor, or even associations that deal with assistance to the poor, then withdraw.

So in Spain a real one was born net, with dozens of Frigorificos solidarios (solidarity refrigerators), which you can visit at this placeThe project has expanded to all regions of the country, from Catalonia to Castile, from the cities of Madrid to Valencia, from Galicia to Andalusia.

ALSO READ: Seven solidarity refrigerators have opened in Bari. What are we waiting for to do the same throughout Italy?

ADVANTAGES OF SOLIDARITY REFRIGERATORS

The advantages of this initiative are twofold. On the one hand, the food waste scandal is contracted, with active participation of citizens, consumers and families. On the other hand food is donated to soup kitchens, where there's never enough and where public funding to support various activities is scarce. The solidarity refrigerator, compared to other similar initiatives, goes a step further, as it directly empowers both the donor and the beneficiaries. Everyone feels directly involved.

SOLIDARITY FRIDGES

In Spain i "Frigoríficos solidarios” (Solidarity refrigerators) are achieving huge success: thousands of restaurant owners and supermarkets They leave unsold or surplus food. It's become a neighborhood habit. Refrigerators are filled and emptied several times a day. Although one of the main goals is to provide assistance to the poor, the purpose of the solidarity refrigerators is also ecological, so everyone can access the fridge and take what they need so that no food is wasted.

TO KNOW MORE: The food waste scandal, the whole truth in this book

GALDAKAO SOLIDARITY REFRIGERATOR

In particular, the solidarity refrigerator di Galdakao, already in the first 5 weeks since the service started, has allowed the recovery of kilograms and kilograms of food that would otherwise have been destined for the garbage. Ice cream, cakes, ready meals, drinks, yogurt: all foods are supplied with Expiration date and they are great to eat.

There are some however rules to be respected: it is not possible to leave it in the refrigerator fish, carne e eggs. The packaged products and tin cans must show the expiry date and the homemade food indications of when it was cooked. Volunteers also periodically check that the food is in good condition.

SOLIDARITY REFRIGERATORS IN ENGLAND AND GERMANY

The Spanish format, after its success in its home country, has also been imported to other European countries, such as the United Kingdom and Germany. Would anyone consider it for Italy as well?

(The images are taken from the Facebook pages “Nevera Solidaria Murcia(I.e.Asociación Humanitaria Voluntarios de Galdakao"And Nevera Solidaria)