The Kelowna community fridge exists on unceded and traditional Syilx land. We acknowledge that this land was and is taken by imperial and extractive violence. While organizing towards food justice, we should not ignore the current and present harms of colonialism and it’s direct connection to food insecurity.
KCF is for and by the community — we believe access to food is a human right and encourage all members of the community to utilize the fridge, no questions asked. KCF is open to everyone, 24/7, to take or share food or goods, without meeting qualifications to participate.
Guiding Principles
The following principles have been used with permission from the Community Fridge Victoria collective:
- We are committed to providing a joyful, safe and welcoming environment regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and religion (or lack thereof). Policing the fridge, passing judgment, or monitoring fridge usage and users will not be tolerated.
- We are committed to doing this work in an anti-colonial, anti-racist framework.
- We recognize that food insecurity affects hugely diverse populations, and manifests differently for everyone. There is no space for assessing need or passing judgment on how fridge users appear. The fridge is to support anyone who would benefit from free food, and does not prioritize a target demographic in food distribution. We practice solidarity, not charity, and operate in the framework of mutual aid.
- We commit to mutual aid work as a long-lasting system of community-building. We practice resistance to hierarchical structures and organizing. We honor each person’s strengths and desires and more or less value is not attached to each individual or their contributions to the work.
- We believe in building individual and collective power without relying on governmental representatives, appealing to authorities, or cooperating with police.
- We work toward sustainability. We work against food waste.
- While we do accept the sharing of outside resources, we must be careful of whom we lend our name, labor, affiliation, or endorsement. There is no room for personal gain in mutual aid, and it should forever remain non-professional. We aim to form a web of lasting community bonds without need of politicians, corporations, or non-profit groups.
- We reject the practice of tying food to political or religious propaganda. Access to food is a human right and should not be contingent upon any particular behavior on the part of the recipient.
- Consent and transparency are the foundations of our work and must be incorporated at every level. From complete financial transparency to respecting the boundaries of our community members and allies, we owe it to each other to be open and honest in our communications and practices.
- We practice restorative, transformative justice, conflict resolution, and commit to setting time aside to address such conflicts. We embrace curiosity and play in ideation and problem solving. We understand that the group makes better decisions when problems are approached with a radical imagination.
- We recognize the difference between intent and impact. When someone does or says something that causes harm or supports the values of oppressive systems, it is often not their intention to do so. But when we use our good intentions to deny the harm, more harm is caused. We commit to taking responsibility for any negative impact we have.
- We understand that our work is made more potent by the active engagement of the community. We always aim to amplify community members and ensure that they are well represented in the design and implementation of projects. We prioritize the lived experience of the community.
- We respect the time, energy, abilities and desires of all volunteers, and understand that not everyone has the same capacity. We understand that time, energy and capacity are elements that can shift in each volunteer’s life day to day, and week to week.