<p>Food wastage is a massive concern in the world today, and in some ways, is an even bigger problem than less-than-adequate food production, because much of the food that ends in the dumpster was actually edible before it was thrown out. This problem is a special bane in India, which already suffers from widespread malnutrition among both kids and adults. This serves only to weaken their immune systems and mental development, leaving them weak in their older days.<br /><br />To combat this problem the best she could, and to find a viable solution to reducing food wastage, Dr. Issa Fatima worked up a novel solution for her community: 'Ayyamittu Unn' a community fridge, where people can place their leftovers for those that need food, who can take it without feeling ashamed or judged, allowing them a meal with some dignity.<br /><br />She set the fridge up in the Besant Nagar Tennis Colony in Chennai with the aid of The Public Foundation. It is open on all days, from 7 AM to 9 PM, for people to deposit and take food from as required. There are only two rules to making use of this facility to deposit food: One is to maintain a log of all items deposited, and the other is to note the preparation and the best before date on the packaging. Since the opening of the fridge, more than 100 people have joined Issa on her goal to eradicating food wastage and starvation in her community<br /><br />The success of the Ayyamittu Unn has been noted by its founding partner, The Public Foundation, in a series of posts on Facebook:<br /><br /></p>.<p><br /><br /><br />More recently, Dr. Issa also added a shelf to the fridge to allow people to deposit non-perishable items like books and clothes for the needy. The only condition is that the items deposited be in a usable condition.<br /><br />Dr. Issa hopes to see a community fridge pop up in every community, so people can have a common platform to share some kindness with those less fortunate than themselves.</p>
<p>Food wastage is a massive concern in the world today, and in some ways, is an even bigger problem than less-than-adequate food production, because much of the food that ends in the dumpster was actually edible before it was thrown out. This problem is a special bane in India, which already suffers from widespread malnutrition among both kids and adults. This serves only to weaken their immune systems and mental development, leaving them weak in their older days.<br /><br />To combat this problem the best she could, and to find a viable solution to reducing food wastage, Dr. Issa Fatima worked up a novel solution for her community: 'Ayyamittu Unn' a community fridge, where people can place their leftovers for those that need food, who can take it without feeling ashamed or judged, allowing them a meal with some dignity.<br /><br />She set the fridge up in the Besant Nagar Tennis Colony in Chennai with the aid of The Public Foundation. It is open on all days, from 7 AM to 9 PM, for people to deposit and take food from as required. There are only two rules to making use of this facility to deposit food: One is to maintain a log of all items deposited, and the other is to note the preparation and the best before date on the packaging. Since the opening of the fridge, more than 100 people have joined Issa on her goal to eradicating food wastage and starvation in her community<br /><br />The success of the Ayyamittu Unn has been noted by its founding partner, The Public Foundation, in a series of posts on Facebook:<br /><br /></p>.<p><br /><br /><br />More recently, Dr. Issa also added a shelf to the fridge to allow people to deposit non-perishable items like books and clothes for the needy. The only condition is that the items deposited be in a usable condition.<br /><br />Dr. Issa hopes to see a community fridge pop up in every community, so people can have a common platform to share some kindness with those less fortunate than themselves.</p>
