Littlehampton Community Fridge Seeks New Location Amid Rising Demand

While many individuals focus on holiday preparations and festive meals, a charity in West Sussex is dedicated to feeding those most in need. However, Littlehampton Community Fridge, which has witnessed a significant increase in local demand over five years—from an average of 50 people to 180 each time it opens—now requires assistance itself as it searches for a new home. Currently operating from St James Church Hall, which is scheduled for permanent closure, the charity reports growing activity but states the necessity of securing an alternative venue. Alison Griffiths, MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, expressed being “very concerned” for the Fridge, describing it as having “become a lifeline for many families,” and urged local businesses to help find a solution. Hayley Rees, a session supervisor and volunteer for the charity, stated she was “astounded” to learn that the organization, through its partnership with FairShare Sussex and Surrey, prevented 96 tonnes of food from going to landfill between January and November. During its sessions, which run five days a week, every customer receives five items. The charity also extends its services through an “on tour” program to other villages. Ms. Rees informed BBC Radio Sussex: “Absolutely anyone can come to us, it doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, everyone’s welcome.” She added: “We also work with the youth probation service. They’ve got youngsters that may be committing crime.” Ms. Rees explained: “A lot is because they need food in their household, maybe they’re not being fed for whatever reason,” continuing, “They’re coming in and putting in some voluntary work with us and then they earn themselves a box or two of food.” As the charity prepares for its busiest period of the year, Ms. Rees recounted: “One Christmas Eve we had 7.5 tonnes, one year we had 500 turkeys and another we had three.” She concluded: “It’s very random. But we’re open and we’re here to give it away.”