Public meeting shows split on future of Charlottetown community fridge
Operators are hoping for a site-specific exemption to keep the fridge running
Some people living near the P.E.I. Community Fridge attended a public meeting in Charlottetown Wednesday night to say it is causing issues in their neighbourhood, while others attending insisted it is a valuable resource for vulnerable Islanders.
More than 40 people showed up at the meeting at Charlottetown City Hall to give their thoughts on the free-food kiosk, which sits in the parking lot of the Parkdale-Sherwood Lions Club on Valley Street.
Seven people, several of whom said they live near the fridge, spoke up to either call for it to be moved or suggest changes to the way it operates. Six people from Charlottetown and other areas of the province made remarks in favour of the fridge continuing to operate as it currently does and on the same site.
The fridge has been operating for nearly three years, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People donate food and personal care items, and those struggling financially are invited to take what they need on an honour basis.
Some volunteers who work with the community fridge told those assembled about meeting military veterans, newcomers to Canada needing food, and a child excited to find a piece of cake.
When it was first proposed, city planning and heritage officials told the operators, 4 Love 4 Care, that they didn't need a site-specific exemption even though the site is zoned for parking.
After someone filed a complaint on Jan. 25 about garbage building up around the small shed, planning officials told councillors an exemption is indeed needed to keep the service running.
Jillian MacKeeman lives right next to the community fridge. While it has been helpful in supporting some members of the community, she said there have been issues.
"One major concern is the increase of drug-related activities near the fridge," she told city councillors Wednesday night. "Unfortunately, its presence has attracted people involved in substance abuse, leading to loitering, drug dealing and drug use in public areas."
Children at a daycare program have witnessed those activities, she said.
"It's worrying for our neighbourhood, especially with homes and this childcare centre nearby. It makes all of us residents feel uneasy and affects our sense of safety. The fridge itself has been a focal point of these activities which goes against its original purpose of being a positive community initiative," MacKeeman said.
She added that she supports improving food insecurity, but doesn't want to see it happen at the expense of people's safety.
It would be desirable to work together as a caring community.— Pauline Howard
A 15-year-old Charlottetown resident spoke at the meeting. She said people loitering near the fridge have made lewd sexual comments and violent threats as she walks down the street.
Others spoke about property damage, public urination, discarded needles, threats and increased litter in the area.
No one was calling for the fridge to shut down completely, but many suggested it change how it operates by limiting hours and having someone on site at all times to provide access to the fridge. Others wanted it moved.
Open-access model supported
Others at the meeting said the fridge having a no-questions-asked model with around-the-clock access cuts out stigma for people ashamed that they can't afford to feed themselves and their families.
"I live close to the fridge and I often go there to donate food. My experience includes meeting a senior who came to the fridge, even though there was a fridge in his community, because of the stigma attached," said Pauline Howard of the P.E.I. Food Exchange.
It would be desirable to work together as a caring community to keep the fridge until such time when 30 per cent of the Island population and two out of five children don't have to suffer from not having a reliable source of enough nutritious food.— Pauline Howard
Howard agreed there have been issues, but said operators and volunteers are addressing them.
"It would be desirable to work together as a caring community to keep the fridge until such time when 30 per cent of the Island population and two out of five children don't have to suffer from not having a reliable source of enough nutritious food," she said.
2 separate problems
Others at the meeting think there are two issues at hand.
"The city has two problems here. One is a drug problem, which is serious, and one is a hunger problem, which is also serious," said Charlottetown resident Ann Thurlow.
"What has happened is the two problems have been conflated. That for some reason, which is pretty simple to understand, a lot of places that exist to help people who are hungry, or people who are homeless, end up attracting people who take drugs."
The drug problem needs to be dealt with separately, she said.
"There are people on our street taking drugs all the time. I know where they get them; it's not hard for the police to figure out where they come from," said Thurlow.
"Let's address the drug problem… help the people who actually need something to eat to get something to eat without having to wade through drug addicts."
Sandra Sunil spoke at the meeting on behalf of 4 Love 4 Care and the Charlottetown Lions Club, which owns the property. Sunil said she understands the concerns about the fridge and is trying to address them.
"I love to hear feedback and I encourage that — even through the public meetings that we hold once a month," she said.
"We want to hear folks' feedback and opinions and challenges and concerns... That feedback can help us contribute in terms of finding an amicable solution and trying to find something that would work."
Checking more often
Volunteers have started checking in on the fridge more frequently, and they now have access to naloxone kits which reverse the effects of opioid overdose, Sunil said.
"We've increased from two to three volunteers a day and that's every day of the week, so we have more presence in terms of volunteers going to the space and making sure things are clean and tidy and making sure food is safe," Sunil said.
There have been no concerns raised by environmental health officers who do inspections regularly, she said.
"We recognize that it can get messy, but that's where we try to encourage folks to clean up after themselves," she said.
The issue will now go to the city's planning board, which will then make a recommendation to council. City council is expected to make a decision on the fridge Aug. 13.
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