A community fridge program in Shanghai that helps neighbors share unwanted food has been derailed by greedy hoarders.

The latest branch of the Solidarity Fridge project, or Share Fridge, was established this past Sunday in Shanghai’s Putao District. With the aim of helping needy residents and conserving food, the project was inspired by “solidarity fridges” in Spain.

“Anyone, whether living in the community or not, can claim food from the fridge after a simple registration,” said neighborhood committee director Zhang Jing. “For example, if you forget to make breakfast for your son, he can just pick up something here. Elderly residents living alone can also get fresh food and chat with volunteers here.”

To protect the public and ensure food safety, only donations from five institutions are currently accepted by the community fridge.

Despite the good intentions of the organisers of the community fridge, some residents have seized this as an opportunity to hoard the food offerings — even if they aren’t in dire need.

A restaurant manager in Changshou Subdistrict who has been operating one such community fridge since late September said all of its food, accounting for about 30 meal boxes daily, were taken within 10 to 90 minutes. The manager added that the food was often taken by those who don’t appear to be needy.

Local reports say lineups of people, some from other areas, began queuing for another Changshou fridge in front of a retirement home on October 9. Additionally, families have been seen carting away the entire contents of the community fridge. One elderly man was stopped when he tried to take every meal box in a fridge.

Program director Ella Zhang said the Green Food Bank project first started in 2014 with about 50 spots in Shanghai. Food for the community fridges have been supplied mainly by local farms, food manufacturers, retailers and restaurants.