For the first anniversary of the installation of its Community Freedge the Upper Skagit Library will be hosting a “FreedgeFest” on December 20th from 4-5pm. The Freedge is part of an attempt to “Squatch Food Waste” led by non-profit organization Sustainable Connections, Skagit County Public Health, and the Upper Skagit Library. Individuals, farmers, and businesses/other organizations such as PeaceHealth, Concrete MarketFresh, and Community Action of Skagit County (the East County Resource Center in particular) donate food – perishable and non-perishable – which is then brought by volunteers to the library who then and maintains the Freedge. (Staff members all obtained Food Handlers licenses.) On occasion other non-food items can also be found by the Freedge such as tote bags, and in the future, hats for the winter, which will be made by volunteers using looms and yarn provided by the library.
For the “FreedgeFest” the library plans to promote the benefits of the Freedge online and in-print throughout the community, highlighting that food and other items donated are available to anyone who needs or even just want it. Frequent Freedge users include teens visiting the library for after-school programs who see a tasty snack and need something to tide them over until they can go home for dinner and those who are experiencing financial, housing, and food insecurity. To date the library has received over 4,360 of pounds in donations. Donations not only benefit those who rely on the food, but those providing it as well; community Freedges are part of the Zero Waste movement, where the goal is to decrease the amount of food thrown out by businesses and restaurants. Money spent on food that ends up not being used instead of becoming a commonly accepted loss becomes a community service, further entrenching a business or restaurant in the good graces of the public.
In November the library put out a call for art celebrating the Squatch Food Waste movement to share online and in person on the Freedge. The library also asked for testimonials from Freedge users and donors in the forms of videos and blogs to share at the December 20th celebration, which will include catering from 5b’s Bakery and live music from local band “Undecided.” The library hopes that guests from all of the organizations, donors, and volunteers that have helped make the program a success will be in attendance, and invitations will be extended to other organizations and community members to join in. The library also hopes to share more information following its recent announcement that it is the recipient of the Skagit Valley Co-op’s 5% (formerly 4%) Friday Shopping Day Program for February 28th, 2025.
