Montreal

Community fridge in Little Burgundy offers a Ramadan lesson in giving

A fridge set up for the Little Burgundy community started as an initiative for Ramadan but now the plan is to keep the giving going year round.

Set up by Muslims, the food in the fridge is for anyone who needs it, regardless of religion

Volunteers proudly show of the community fridge set up at the corner of St. Jacques and des Seigneurs streets in Little Burgundy. (Sarah Leavitt/CBC)

A community fridge initially set up as a pilot project for the month of Ramadan has proven so successful, it will stay all year round.

Muslim-based organization PEACE Initiatives first started the project, setting up the fridge outside at the corner of St-Jacques and des Seigneurs streets, in Little Burgundy.

The plan was to fill it with food to provide those in need, and those fasting for Ramadan, with something to eat. 

"It's a month of giving. Usually what we do in this month, we invite people to our house to offer food there. So it's the same concept that we wanted to do but outside," said Ahmadi Mohamed, who works at Peace Initiatives.
Members of the community come by to make sure the fridge is filled with meals. (Sarah Leavitt/CBC)

Mohamed has been making sure the fridge is replenished with fresh meals every day.

"Some people don't really like to go to the food bank to get some food. Some of them want to preserve their dignity in a certain way and with this, no one can see you," he said.

"You can go and just grab the food and you're finished."

In fact, the fridge has been such a popular spot that the organization is getting a bigger one, and hoping to keep it replenished all year round.