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What if tackling hunger didn’t need a massive budget or a government scheme, just a fridge, some leftovers, and a little heart?
That’s the quiet revolution underway in Indian cities, where community fridges are popping up outside restaurants, in neighbourhoods, and on busy pavements. The idea is simple: leave what you can, take what you need.
No paperwork, no questions - just food, freely shared.
1. Delhi: The Happy Fridge Movement
In the heart of the capital, Feeding India has installed ‘Happy Fridges’ across residential colonies and marketplaces. Locals drop off extra rotis, rice, and vegetables, and anyone - from a delivery worker to a hungry passerby - can walk up and grab a warm meal.
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It's not just about food. It's about dignity, about making sure help doesn’t feel like charity.
2. Kolkata: Food ATMs
In Kolkata, a group of restaurateurs and volunteers came together to start ‘Food ATM ‘- a public fridge stacked with restaurant leftovers and home-cooked food.
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Set up in high-footfall areas, these fridges are stocked multiple times a day. The idea is simple: good food shouldn’t be wasted while people go to bed hungry.
3. Chennai: Ayyamittu Unn
Inspired by an old Tamil saying meaning “feed someone before you eat”, Dr Issa Fathima Jasmine started a community fridge outside the Besant Nagar Tennis Club.
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Locals quietly drop off home-cooked meals, fruits, and even bottles of water. The fridge runs on kindness and has become a daily ritual for many in the neighbourhood.
4. Gurugram: Sharing Shelves
In Gurugram, over 100 families are part of the Sharing Shelves initiative - a simple, community-driven fridge system. Residents regularly contribute home-cooked food, while those in need are free to take what they require.
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It’s a hyper-local effort built on mutual trust, aiming to reduce both food waste and hunger in a quiet, effective way.
5. Mumbai: The Roti Bank
Started by former Mumbai Police Commissioner D Sivanandhan, the Roti Bank is more than just a fridge; it's a full-fledged food rescue operation. Volunteers collect surplus food from homes, caterers, restaurants, and events, and distribute it to those in need across the city.
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With a dedicated helpline and delivery system, Roti Bank ensures that good food reaches hungry mouths before it gets to the bin. Over time, it has grown into a trusted network, serving thousands of meals a day, one saved chapati at a time.
Why This Works
Community fridges are proof that solving big problems doesn’t always need big money. A fridge, a plug point, and a few caring citizens. That’s all it takes to keep someone from sleeping hungry.
They don’t just feed stomachs, they build bridges. Between neighbours. Between strangers. Between those who have a little more and those who need a little help.
Edited by Khushi Arora