A public fridge that feeds the needy

MANGALURU: Inspired by children who visit his cyber cafe to complete their projects works on nature and food wastage, a resident of Mangaluru who runs cyber cafés in the city, has kept a fridge in front of the café stocks leftover food to feed the poor and needy.It was a long-pending dream of Arafath Ameen, who owns a cyber café located near Balmatta New Road, adjacent to KMC Hospital in Dr B R Ambedkar Circle. He started this initiative two days ago. “Since past three years, I used to find a solution for the food wastage problem and how to help the needy. It materialized on December 2 and has received a good response,” explains Arafath.Arafath’s has placed a fridge at his cafe where he stores fruits, fruit juice, water and food packets. Usually people store excess food or discard it. But there are people who are unable to get a single meal a day. The food here is covered and stored in a hygienic way and this is the first public fridge for needy in city. Currently, Arafath spends from his pocket and stores food. “Food that I kept on the first day was taken by night and I am happy that only needy people are making use of the facility.” The fridge which is open round the clock is monitored through CCTV. “It was to ensure that food is not wasted and is utilized properly.”If this initiative becomes successful, Arafath plans to implement this at his three other cyber cafe centres near KMC Attavara, Hampankatta and Bendorewll. “This fridge is just for a trial run. In the coming days, I want to install a double-door fridge so that vegetarian and non-vegetarian food can be kept separately. I am determined to see that this is a continuous effort and it never stops,” he added.