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The driveway food shed that became a community hub

Isobel FryNorth West
BBC Volunteers stock shelves and organise crates of fresh produce inside a community food pantry, with large refrigerated units lining both sides of the building and pallets of vegetables in the foreground.BBC
About 50 volunteers now help out at the Sutton Community Fridge in Cheshire

A small food shed set up on a driveway in Cheshire less than two years ago has grown into a community hub which helps about 200 people each week.

Sutton Community Fridge was set up in December 2024 by Gayle Parks to tackle food waste and help families in the Macclesfield area access affordable food.

The project collects surplus stock from supermarkets, charities and businesses that would otherwise be thrown away and makes it available to buy at a low price.

The idea came to Gayle after about £15,000 worth of stock was stolen during a burglary at her family's pet shop.

In the aftermath, she relied on apps offering surplus food to help feed her own family.

She said: ''It made me question how could perfectly good food be going to waste when families were struggling to put food on their tables?''

A woman with long blonde hair and glasses and wearing a pink hooded sweatshirt stands in front of shelves stocked with fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy products and packaged foods inside a community food shop or food pantry. Refrigerated produce, including grapes, salad items and peppers, fills the shelves behind them, with chilled drinks visible in a glass-fronted fridge to the left.
Gayle Parks started the community fridge from her kitchen in 2024

Gayle invited people around to her kitchen table to take the excess surplus food she had collected.

As demand grew, she expanded into a shed on her driveway.

"If they wanted to leave a donation that was absolutely fine, but it wasn't a must," she explained.

The project soon outgrew the shed and so, six months later, they secured a unit and opened the Sutton Community Fridge, which is now run by a team of 50 volunteers.

''You could say we begged and borrowed," she told the BBC.

"We negotiated rent with the landlord, we fundraised for fridges, freezer and units.''

Stacks of bread and bakery products in brown delivery crates are stored inside a warehouse-style food distribution centre. The crates are filled with loaves, rolls and other packaged baked goods, positioned near an open loading bay with parked cars visible outside. A refrigerated cabinet containing chilled food stands to the right of the crates.
Food is sent from local supermarkets and charities to the community hub

The volunteers collect surplus food from supermarkets as far away as Stockport, Knutsford and Kidsgrove, while charities including FareShare also supply donations.

''It's like Christmas Day every day - you never know what you're going to get, it's always a surprise," said Gayle.

Volunteer Ben Currie joined the project after he retired.

He said he ''wanted to do something to give back to his community''.

''Some people come in and they depend on it for their weekly shop,'' he said.

''You're a small cog in a big wheel, but you're doing something to help people.''

'Stop food waste'

According to Recycle for Greater Manchester, households in the UK throw away about 6.6 million tonnes of food each year, including 4.5 million tonnes that could have been eaten.

Sutton Community Fridge trustee Alicia Roberts said the project was about more than supporting people facing financial difficulties.

''We want to spread awareness - this isn't just a place for people in need, it's also a place to stop food waste.

"By someone shopping here, you're helping us support others in the community, it's a full circle thing."

A person with long brown, highlighted hair wearing a brown hoodie stands inside a community food hub or food distribution centre. Behind them are stacks of bread crates, refrigerated display units and a counter area with produce and storage containers. A video camera on a tripod is visible in the background, with shelves of food and chilled products filling the space.
Alicia Roberts started volunteering in 2024 and is now one of the charity's trustees

Gayle has recently won an award for Community Champion of the Year at Cheshire's Everybody Awards 2026.

She said she ''never expected to get a nomination, let alone win''.

Now she wants to see the charity continue to grow and help more people.

''I would never have the money to go out and buy this food to support people," she said.

"By doing it this way, we're saving the food and people can have that extra meal on the table."

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