NEWS RELEASE
COMMUNITY LIVING ASSOCIATION FOR SOUTH SIMCOE
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The Community Living Association for South Simcoe (CLASS) community fridge will open by mid-March.
The location of this food pantry is at 125 Dufferin St., Alliston, Ont. (entrance of north side of parking lot) and will operate seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Inspired by other community food pantries, CLASS staff member Courtney Johnston proposed the idea to help those in the Alliston area with food insecurity by opening a Community Fridge program.
With support from the County of Simcoe, CLASS is excited to announce the launch of a new innovative program for the community and the people we support. The goal is to address food insecurity in South Simcoe. The program will offer free access to nutritious foods while giving those we support some great on-the-job skills and knowledge to pursue employment in the community through volunteering.
What is a “Community Fridge”?
A Community Fridge is where people who need food, can access the fridge, and take a few days’ worth of food. It also complements other resources available in the community to relieve hunger. No personal information is being collected to access the Community Fridge.
What are the hours going to be, where is it located and who can access it?
First CLASS Community Fridge will be open 7 days a week from 8 am to 8 pm! This will accommodate many different families working a variety of shifts. The fridge can be accessed by anyone in need from Simcoe County at our 125 Dufferin St location, in a separate room with outside access to the room only.
What can be donated to the community fridge?
Produce, dry goods, hygiene items, pet food, canned goods, fresh meats (not frozen or past best before date), store-bought bread and pastries, dairy products, eggs, prepared meals from a public health-certified kitchen (must be labelled with expiry date and possible allergens).
Event dates: The CLASS Grand Opening of the Community Fridge will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. A vendor market will also occur the same day from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. The entry fee for the event is $2 or a food donation (as per above). Proceeds from this event go towards purchasing food for the Fridge program. This will take place at 125 Dufferin St. S., Alliston, ON.
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