Ramadan Sharing Fridges are back for 2019: Here's what you need to know...

From where they’re located to the best items to donate, it’s a wonderful initiative to get involved in…

Ramadan is almost upon us, and many Dubai residents will be starting to think about ways they can give back to the community during this special time.

One brilliant way to do so is by participating in the Ramadan Sharing Fridges initiative. It all started in 2016, with the creation of a Facebook group encouraging people to set up and stock fridges all over Dubai for those in need to help themselves to.

The group now has over 25,000 members, and last year saw the establishment of more than 200 fridges across the city. It is estimated that each fridge feeds at least 100 people a day.

ALSO READ: New to Dubai? Here’s what you need to know about Ramadan

Want to know how you can get involved in 2019? We spoke to Fridge Manager Anne Mulcahy to find out more…

If people are new to Dubai, what should they know about the Ramadan Sharing Fridges initiative?

The Ramadan Sharing fridges are about extending your home to the less fortunate and inviting your neighbours and community members to share food/drinks and a chat with our community workers.

It is a grassroots initiative where individuals place their own spare fridge outside their home, register with us so that we list their fridge on our google map.

It is a Dubai based initiative, under the umbrella of the Emirates Red Crescent, that brings different members of the community to share a moment together, and to show appreciation and respect for each other. It’s about demonstrating that a small act of kindness can have a positive effect on other people’s life both during and beyond the holy month of Ramadan.

How many fridges are expected this year? 

It is always difficult to forecast but in the previous year there were over 170 fridges registered in Dubai. One thing we really want to stress though is that 1 full fridge in an area is better that several fridges not full. We encourage people to work together and share the responsibility of the community fridge rather than opening new ones in the same neighborhood.

What is new this year is that we are trying to register our fridges before Ramadan so that the map is ready for Day 1. Therefore, we encourage all interested fridge managers to contact us now to register on: Registration@ramadansharingfridges.org

How can people get involved? 

People can get involved by visiting and supporting a fridge in their area. When shopping, think about that little extra you could donate to the fridge – this is what makes the difference.

In the past we had a growing number of schools joining us and we really encourage all schools of Dubai to support the project this year.

What sort of things should people donate?

As per the previous years our license is not for cooked food. We gladly accept soft drinks, fresh fruits, laban, fruit juices, biscuits. You can find a list of the best items to bring on our Facebook group.

Is there anything people can do starting from now?

Yes, if you are thinking about being a fridge manager, it is the right time to get in touch. And for all people of Dubai, please keep us in mind throughout Ramadan, pass by your local fridge and witness the happiness your donations will spread. 

How did it all start?

It all began as an initiative to help our community workers and labourers to have access to free food and drinks during the month of Ramadan. What started as one family filling a spare fridge outside their home in 2016 has grown into this wider community initiative, and by the end of Ramadan 2016, there were over 170 fridges across the city.

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