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SAGA -- The nonprofit group behind a "community fridge" in southwest Japan has been calling for continuous support from providers so it can keep offering free food and everyday items to low-income households.

The refrigerator, open to the public in the city of Saga, is the only facility of its kind in Japan's Kyushu region. With around three months having passed since the Saga Community Fridge was launched, the number of registered members has surpassed 140. However, there has been a serious shortage in supplies due to the absence of regular providers of food. The incorporated nonprofit group that established the community fridge is searching for companies, organizations and other parties that can provide long-term support, and is calling for cooperation.

In just a week after its opening on May 14, the public fridge drew around 100 registered members, exceeding expectations. New registrations have cooled down, but as there are few providers, food and everyday items donated by companies, organizations and farmers come in at irregular intervals, and in insufficient amounts to cover all registered members.

Every Friday, collected goods are displayed at the facility, and most food items are gone within the day. On some days, no items are left at all. The nonprofit group has apparently heard users saying, "I was finally able to bring things home on my third visit," and "I'm sad that there was nothing there, even though I came all the way from the city of Tosu." The nonprofit's administrative office commented, "We're pained that there's nothing to place in the fridge. The service seems to be spreading only among parties who receive support, while what we're doing is not well known at the giving end." The organization has been making rounds to companies, asking for their cooperation.

Besides supplying food products and daily household goods, companies and other bodies have various other ways to show support, such as making donations through food drives where employees bring surplus food items from home, setting up vending machines with donation options, and placing charity boxes at stores. The nonprofit group has also called on companies and other bodies to replace their stockpiles of emergency supplies a bit earlier. A representative said, "If we can receive the items that would normally be discarded, this will lead to a reduction in food loss, too."

In July, a commercial-use refrigerator and freezer were brought in, enhancing the storage of perishables and frozen food. The nonprofit's administrative office said, "Instead of ending as a one-time thing, we'd like the network of support to spread continuously." For inquiries on providing resources and other questions, call the nonprofit group on 0952-20-0960 (in Japanese)

(Japanese original by Takeshi Saito, Saga Bureau)

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