1. Take what you need
2. Leave what you can
3. Keep the fridge clean and tidy
4. If you will not eat it, please do not donate it.
Please follow the guidelines posted on the fridge. All items that have been viewed by BCITSA staff will have a sticker indicating such. All food consumed from the Community Fridge is done so at the risk of the individual.
The Community Fridge is an accessible, safe, and low-barrier resource for individuals to access food on their terms, taking what they need, when they need it. It provides a place for people on campus to give and take, reduce waste, and helps to ensure that members of the BCIT community can feed themselves and their families.
Part of the Food Support Hub, this is one of the ways we are looking to address food insecurity on campus.
Located at the Burnaby Campus, on the 2nd floor of building SE2. Located next to the Elevator and BCITSA Food Pantry.
Anyone can take part! The fridge will be open for anyone who wants to take food from it or leave food in it.
Donors can be individuals who bought too much, food services on campus with extra that will be thrown away, or local grocers with stock that cannot be sold for cosmetic reasons. By giving what we can and taking what we need, we are all playing a part in supporting each other and reducing food waste.
YES PLEASE!
We will gratefully accept the following unopened and unused items:
YES IF…
Labelled with best before date
NO THANK YOU!
Please do not donate the following:
* We can only accept cooked meals from commercially licensed kitchens that properly label all the food.
Before you donate, ask yourself:
Is it going to waste?
Identify edible food items that are at risk of being thrown away or going to waste.
Is it still fresh?
Only donate food when still fresh or before it reaches the expiry date if it has one.
Can it be included?
Make sure the item is an accepted food type for the Community Fridge. Don’t donate any food types that are not accepted.
Do I still have use for it?
Only donate food if you don’t have use for it, not because it’s no longer edible.
BCITSA Staff and Volunteers will be maintaining and monitoring the fridge to ensure guidelines and safety procedures are being followed. For more information on the safety measures in place, please read the Safety & Procedure Guidelines.
If the fridge appears to require maintenance, please contact foodsupport@bcitsa.ca
The Community Fridge operates under the take something, leave something philosophy where access to healthy foods can be accessed, no questions asked. We will not police who is taking the food, how much, or how often. Some people have large families or are helping to distribute to neighbours in need. There are many reasons why someone may need to access the fridge and they are all valid.
Thank you for your interest! There are many ways to get involved with the Community Fridge:
Email wellness@bcitsa.ca if you have any questions regarding the Community Fridge or if you would like more information on how to get involved.
The Community Fridge is located on the unceded and ancestral lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples. We acknowledge it is a privilege to be gathering as uninvited guests, and recognize the importance of conducting ourselves in a way that honours and respects these nations’ connection to their Land and Water.
