An underprivileged woman, child in tow, tentatively approaches a ‘community fridge’ set up off New Link Road in Oshiwara on Friday morning. Locals hand them packets containing freshly made poha. A few minutes later, stomachs full, they’re beaming. They’re just two of the 300-odd people who the fridge caters to daily, says Preeti Khurana, a Lokhandwala resident who runs an import business.
It was Khurana who set up the fridge on May 18 after hearing about a similar one that had been set up by the Versova Welfare Association (VWA) in January.
“The fridge doesn’t only cater to the underprivileged. As this is a commercial hub, loaders, autorickshaw drivers and BMC workers also stop by to grab a bite when they’re hungry,” she says.
Residents of Morya Classic Society, Oshiwara, not only pay for the electricity that keeps the fridge running, but also chip in with roti-sabzi, fresh fruits and snacks ranging from burgers to vada pavs. “A lot of the food stored here comes from local restaurants, which give us leftovers,” says Khurana.
She meticulously notes the names and numbers of people who drop by with food packets. “Keeping track of contributors is necessary. If someone falls ill after eating from this fridge, we need to know exactly who supplied what so such incidents can be prevented in future. We also maintain a record of who our regular contributors are, so we can call and request additional food if we’re running low,” she adds.
This is Mumbai’s second community fridge, after VWA president Gopal Hegde set up the first one just 5km away, near Versova’s Vateshwar temple. “Hegde wanted to create an atmosphere where people could live with dignity and weren’t forced to beg. His second aim was to eliminate food wastage,” says Shyam Kalwani, VWA committee member. Hegde bought the fridge and word-of-mouth ensures that it remains stocked.
“Residents throwing a party often send us their surplus food. Local restaurants also supply us with large quantities of dal and sambhar occasionally,” says advocate Pinky Bhansali, VWA member. Local caterer and VWA member Varsha Bagchandani cooks breakfast, lunch and dinner enough to feed 30 people daily, which ensures that the fridge never runs empty. Residents also give the association monetary donations, which enables association members to buy food. “People sometimes give us donations in memory of a family member or a friend who has died. They then ask us to cook that person’s favourite dish so others can enjoy it,” says Bhansali.
Two CCTV cameras are set up near the fridge and VWA members man the area to ensure that there is no wastage of food.
Kalwani estimates that the fridge feeds around 50 people daily. “I depend on the fridge for my three daily meals. I’m thankful for this initiative,” says Anil Kumar Rao, a Versova resident.
Dr Kshitij Mehta, general secretary, VWA, says the association has also identified several spots in the city where more community fridges can be set up.
