[ad_1]
Published by from …
Take what you need and leave what you can – this is the concept behind the growing public refrigerator movement, emerging in cities across the United States. As the COVID-19 pandemic increases the pressure on people fighting food insecurity, communities are turning to mutual aid as an important source of help. Mutual Aid is a volunteer-run form of community organization that helps provide goods and assistance to those in need. Public refrigerators are a simple form of this, allowing those who have more than they need to reallocate their resources to those who cannot buy food. Some organizers are using refrigerators as an opportunity to offer healthy vegan food to their communities by asking for donations without meat, eggs or dairy.
Here are some vegan community refrigerators and vegan-friendly self-help networks that you can use or maintain:
Topple Community Fridge (New York)
New York City’s first fully vegan public fridge is located outside the Overthrow Boxing Club. Since it opened in February 2021, the community has provided supplies of fresh produce, vegan cheese, vegan milk and other food items. The organizers also equipped a wooden pantry next to the refrigerator for shelf-stable items such as bread, rice, biscuits, pasta and canned goods.
Community Fridge SATX (San Antonio)
Community Fridge SATX offers fresh food, durables, canned food, vegan meat, vegan milk and personal care products donated by local businesses and individuals.
DaVillage Pop Up Store (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Founder Shamel Jackson launched DaVillage Pop Up Shop to provide low-income families in her area with healthy eating options during the pandemic. One of the DaVillage community refrigerators is completely vegan, stocking groceries, tofu, ready-made vegan meals and more.
SF / Bay Area Mutual Aid Support (San Francisco)
This Bay Area self-help network is helping to provide the city’s most vulnerable residents with low-waste vegan relief kits. If you live in the area and want to volunteer for vegan cooking, here’s how you can sign up.
Mutual Aid ABQ (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
ABQ Mutual Aid receives food donations from local restaurants, shops and farmers for distribution to those in need in the Albuquerque area. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the group has been collecting food boxes for families weekly and with the help of New Mexico Animal Welfare made vegan boxes available as part of the service.
Food, not DTLA bombs (Angels)
The Downtown Los Angeles branch of Food Not Bombs is a self-help organization that offers weekly vegan meals to the homeless and redistributes non-food donations in the form of toiletries, clothing, and other merchandise.
Food, not bombs, Isla Vista (Isla Vista, California)
Another Food Not Bombs branch, Isla Vista, California, offers healthy vegan meals made with fresh ingredients that would otherwise be wasted.
How can I install my own vegan refrigerator?
The following tips can help you set up a vegan refrigerator in your area. Be sure to only ask for donations to vegans – this means no meat, eggs, dairy, honey, or any other animal products or ingredients. Consider placing a bookshelf next to the refrigerator so people can leave canned food, spices, and other non-perishable foods that don’t need to be kept in the refrigerator.
Why Vegan Mutual Aid?
The goal of a self-help organization is to create a community based on equality and compassion. For this, animals must also be taken into account. In addition, vegan foods are often cheaper, healthier and more environmentally friendly. To learn more about the benefits of being vegan, check out our guide:
How to become a vegan
[ad_2]
Source link