Author: Mandy Chang
Photo source: Instagram account of the sharing fridge
This semester, students, faculty, and staff alike have been excitedly greeting a new, furry friend roaming our campus — Cinnamon, our newly adopted school dog. Cinnamon, a three-year-old golden retriever with a gentle personality and endless love to share, was recently adopted by Sweets University as part of a unique initiative aimed at enhancing student well-being and fostering a sense of community.
The FJU Sharing Fridge, launched in 2019 as part of the "New Taipei Coexistence: Food Sharing USR Project" (Fu Jen University), aims to reduce food waste and encourage sharing. It has become Taiwan's first food-sharing program based on campus, offering near-expiration foods to all FJU students such as bread, instant noodles, fruits, snacks, milk, and ice cream. All the resources are donated by retailers, bakeries, university departments, and individuals. The available items vary daily, and different kinds of bread are the most common. In just three years, it has served over 67,000 Fu Jen students and staff and rescued nearly 36,000 kilograms of food from being wasted. More than just a source of near-expiration items like bread, fruits, and snacks, the fridge embodies the spirit of "cherish food and share," fostering awareness about food waste and resource conservation.
Photo source: opening ceremony of FJU sharing fridge
Photo source: FJU Sharing Fridge
"The Sharing Fridge is truly a great idea for helping people while preventing food waste," said Tseng, a student who has several experiences of taking resources from the sharing fridge. He said sometimes he would take some resources from the fridge when he’s available. He mentioned that the fridge always offers a large quantity of resources, ensuring that everyone who visits can find something. Tseng expressed that seeing people in need being able to access food through the Sharing Fridge deeply moved him, as it prevents them from hunger. A sophomore girl named Tsai, from the Department of French Language and Culture, mentioned that she knows there is food available every weekday. She said that she does not go often, but if she feels a little hungry in the afternoon, she will go to the shared fridge to grab a simple piece of bread and some milk. She also pointed out that if students do not visit the shared fridge often to take the food, it will eventually be wasted. Therefore, she believes that everyone should not feel ashamed to take the free food, as this simple action helps to reduce food waste.
Moreover, despite directly helping students in need, the sharing fridge also makes a significant impact on advancing SDGs, particularly SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)y SG in responsible consumption and production --SDG 12 and zero hunger --SDG 2. The FJU Sharing Fridge not only supports SDG 12 by fostering a circular economy on campus, where food is shared instead of wasted, but also plays a key role in educating the community about the value of food and the importance of reducing waste. This practice encourages more sustainable consumption practices, inspiring individuals to adopt responsible and mindful habits within the university.
The FJU Sharing Fridge exemplifies how countless small acts of kindness can change people’s perceptions and values of food, creating a new way to put sustainable development goals into practice in university life. As college students, we can begin with simple actions like reducing food waste and learning to cherish what we have. Additionally, if we have the means, we can donate money to foundations that focus on hunger relief or sustainability. Every small action plays a role in creating a more sustainable and compassionate world. Together, we can make a meaningful difference. Lastly, let us not forget how much the FJU Sharing Fridge has supported students in need over the past three years. Let’s continue to raise awareness about this initiative, so more people can benefit from it and spread the love further.