Community Fridges Toronto (CFTO) is a network of public fridges with free food run by volunteers in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with the intent of providing mutual aid to those in need, such as the homeless and people with food insecurity.
[1][2][3] The network was co-created by Jalil Bokhari and his friend Julian Bentivegna to help support the homeless population in the Alexandra Park neighborhood in Toronto.
[1][4] In November 2020, CFTO was forced to remove one of their public fridges in the Parkdale neighborhood by the City of Toronto due to "public safety and accessibility concerns", citing the "abandoned appliance bylaw" meant to protect children "and sanitation issues related to stopping the spread of COVID-19.
· The Personal Care Bank, founded by William Emilio in October 2021, is a grassroots not for profit community run initiative, and lists thirteen locations on its website as of July 2024: ten in Toronto (three of which are at Toronto Public Library branches); two in Peterborough, Ontario; and one in New Westminster, British Columbia.
· Community Food Hub, founded by Sitra Suleiman in March 2022, is a grassroots not for profit volunteer led initiative, featuring a community fridge and little free pantry, and has two locations in Scarborough as of July 2024.