Fate of Charlottetown community fridge remains in limbo

The community fridge in Charlottetown will soon be removed from its location in the parking lot of the Parkdale-Sherwood Lions Club on Valley Street. But where it will go, or if it will even continue to operate, is uncertain.

In mid-August, city councillors voted 7-1 to remove the fridge within 30 days after realizing it hadn't gotten proper approval and would need a site-specific exemption to keep operating. 

That 30 days is now up, and though the fridge remains on the site and there are some food items in the pantry, there is a sign posted on the door saying it is no longer in operation.

Mayor Phillip Brown said it's up to organizers to find a new location. 

"We want to find out if there is a plan going forward," he said. "If there is a possible location, we're open to look at it, see if it applies to the zoning and permissible use and move forward."

The community fridge was launched three years ago with the intention of helping to reduce food insecurity in Charlottetown. Residents donate food to the fridge, and anyone can take what they need, 24 hours a day.

Other municipalities, including Summerside, used the idea to create their own community fridges.

However, some residents who live near the Charlottetown fridge had complained to the city about loitering, littering, trespassing and property damage. 

Sandra Sunil, one of the founders of 4 Love 4 Care, the group that operates the fridge, said a committee is looking at possible new locations. But no decisions have been made yet. 

"We're not sure what the next steps would be. We had that public meeting right after council's decision to figure out whether this model is needed or not in the community and from those in attendance, really identified that this model is needed and wanted," Sunil told CBC News on Tuesday.

"But in terms of what that looks like or who will take charge or initiate to make that happen, nothing has been identified with that."