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On May 14, 2022, Kyushu’s first community fridge was launched in Saga City. Community Fridge is a place where vulnerable individuals can get food and essential items without worrying about time or others.

Saga Community Fridge was co-founded by two local organizations to support families experiencing economic hardship. This is the fifth community fridge in the country and Civic Force is providing clothing and essential items.

The pandemic has had a negative financial impact on many families. In Saga, one in seven children and 48% of single-parent households live in poverty. Saga Community Fridge opened its door to support 1,500 single-parent households in Saga City. A traditional in-kind donation system requires individuals to come in to collect items at a certain time and they often did not get what they actually needed. Additionally, beneficiaries often felt discouraged receiving services due to a lack of privacy. Conversely, Community Fridge allows flexible pick-up while respecting their privacy. 30 households are expected to visit the Community Fridge per day and the organizations aim to expand their services to 6,000 households in the entire prefecture. Community Fridge can be accessed by smartphone app.

Civic Force is proud to support this amazing initiative to reach families experiencing hardship during this pandemic.