Share, help, don`t throw away!

The community fridges installed by the Catholic University of Lublin are very popular. - This proves that we have contributed to the growth of consumer awareness in Lublin," says Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin.

After the Christmas and New Year break, the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin has returned to full-time study and work. This means that you can use the freedge: bring your own food and help yourself. The community fridges of the Catholic University of Lublin can be used by anyone. The idea of food sharing was presented in Lublin in December 2018. The first social fridge was set up on Tysiąclecia Avenue, at market no. 1. As of December 2023, there are already three freedges in Lublin - two new ones are located on the campus of the Catholic University of Lublin: the Main Campus and Poczekajka.

In Poland, almost 5 million tons of food are wasted every year, and the average Pole throws away about 247 kg of food. These statistics make us think and call for concrete preventive measures. One of the organizations promoting a more conscious approach to food is Foodsharing Poland.

The social refrigerators save good food from being thrown away. There are already 103 Foodsharing Polska locations, with another 43 similar places in operation. To the satisfaction of many, their number is increasing every year.

- Our freedges were set up out of the need of the heart.  After all, a person's wealth is not measured by what he has in his pocket, but by what he has in his heart. And this is the message we want to share on this occasion," said the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski.

The community fridges have one main goal - to save food from being wasted. It's a place where everyone can share and at the same time eat food that would otherwise most likely end up in the trash. If you can't manage surplus food or don't know how to do it, but don't want to throw it away, you can bring it to the community refrigerator. It is important that the products that go to the fridge are fit for consumption. Keep in mind that the eatery is for everyone - that is, anyone, regardless of their financial status, can feel comfortable taking what they want from the fridge, free of charge.

- This is a fantastic initiative. Probably each of us has faced the dilemma of what to do with food that is good but is just left in the fridge. I don't like to throw food away, but I know that many people don't even think about it. Now I will remember that if I can't eat something, I can bring it to our freedges," said one student.

The social fridges are located in two sites. The first is placed on the first floor of the John Paul II College, entrance from the Post Office, and the second is on the Poczekajka  campus, in the biotechnology building. The fridges can be used during the university's opening hours, i.e. from 6 am to 9 pm.