Kelowna Community Fridge looking for a new home

Photo: Contributed

The less fortunate now have one less place to go now that the Kelowna Community Fridge at the Unitarians Church is closed.

The Community Fridge was forced to close its doors on Dec. 30 after nearly two years of partnering with the Kelowna Unitarians, when the building began significant renovations.

"They are unable to continue hosting us," said Annette Nicoletti-Carriere in a statement from Community Fridge project management.

"The 24/7 Fridge/Pantry location at the Kelowna Unitarians has closed—the shed was taken down on Dec. 30th."

Nicoletti-Carriere tells Castanet the Community Fridge collective remains, "and we are working hard to find a new location for the 24/7 Fridge/Pantry."

No word on whether the fridge will return to the Cawtson Ave. location once renovations on the church are completed but Nicoletti-Carriere says they are still operating the monthly Pop Up Pantry in Rutland, with the next event taking place Jan. 22.

When the Community Fridge first opened on Cawston Ave. in the spring of 2021, Lauren St. Clair, a volunteer with the Community Fridge, said it was very popular.

“It's definitely had a lot of uptake," she said. "There's certainly a need for this that we are able to see, and there's been a huge fluctuation in terms of the fridge’s contents and in terms of people donating as well as using the fridge.”

The Rutland Pop Up Pantry will be open between noon and 3 p.m., Jan. 22 at Roxby Centennial Square, located at the corner of Hwy 33 and Roxby Rd.