St John’s Community Fridge Marks One Year of Serving Grantham

A year of hospitality and stewardship

On Wednesday 22 May 2025, St John’s Spitalgate Community Fridge celebrates its first anniversary. It’s been a full year of reducing food waste, building relationships, and supporting the local community. They’ve really made a tremendous impact.

Making it possible

Since opening its doors in May 2024, the Community Fridge has been open three days a week. It is run by a committed team of 16 volunteers, led by Project Coordinator, Frances Roundtree.

A substantial grant from the National Lottery Community Fund was instrumental in launching the project. There was further support from Grantham Rotary, Grantham Lions, and St Wulfram’s Mission and Social Responsibility sub-group.

More recently, a £3,000 grant from the Evan Cornish Foundation Grassroots Fund has helped cover volunteer costs, heating, and lighting for the fridge’s space inside St John’s Church.

Waste saved, community served

In just 12 months, the fridge has saved more than 12 tonnes of food from landfill. It has helped local families save nearly £10,000 on groceries since January alone. It has become a place of welcome and care, where everyone is free to take what they need – no referral and no membership required.

The fridge is not a food bank, but a donation-based initiative focused on sustainability and community. Working with local shops, supermarkets, and allotment holders in Grantham, the team redistributes surplus food. These are often items past their best date or with damaged packaging, but which is still perfectly delicious to eat.

It’s a simple but effective way of caring for the environment while offering practical support and compassion to neighbours.

Living out the Marks of Mission

Fr Clay Roundtree, priest-in-charge at St John’s Spitalgate, said:

“This important project has been a wonderful way to build community around caring for the environment and is a practical way of acting responsibly towards God’s creation—one of the Five Marks of Mission. The project has helped to put St John’s Spitalgate right at the heart of its local community.”

Discover more about the fridge

The fridge has drawn together a community of more than 100 people—volunteers, donors, partners, and guests. They all share in the vision of hospitality, stewardship, and hope.

To find out more, visit the St Johns Spitalgate website.

or follow their Facebook page for the latest updates.

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