A Saudi man, who wishes to remain anonymous, has installed a giant refrigerator in front of his house to provide fresh food for the needy. He invited his neighbors in the city of Hail to bring their leftovers for sharing.
His idea for the street fridge was to spare the needy the “shame” of begging or dumpster diving for food.
According to the Gulf News, the story spread far and wide after a Muslim religious scholar with millions of followers on Twitter, Shaikh Mohammad Al Araifi, tweeted some love to “the Saudi man from Hail who was engaged in an indirect act of charity.”
(Source: Gulf News – Photo from: Akhbaar24.argaam.com)
An absolutely terrific idea! I read yesterday that 1/3 of the food produced globally each year is wasted. How often do you pitch the leftover Sloppy Joe because you, or your kids, won’t eat it before it spoils? My fear is that if this idea was tried in America, there would be just enough scumbags (in certain parts of the nation at least) to make it unworkable. Am I cynical about some segments of our society, you ask? Yes, sadly, I am, but I’ve lived in a big city for the past 30 years.
I do feel this would have problems in Australia because of laws about listing ingredients and use by dates. However during lockdown I put a box out of the front of my house with non perishable cans of food and baby formula and the like so anyone could take it. I have also seen people do little pantries here, just like the little libraries, a box just on their garden fences with free food and sanitary products as well and encouraging others to donate.