The Pantry project saw membership applications rise sharply in its opening weeks and organisers plan to increase capacity
A VOLUNTEER-LED shop which offers cheap food to struggling families in Llanrumney has seen memberships and donations surge.
For £5 a week, members of the Llanrumney Hall Pantry are given tokens to shop for food and household essentials at a subsidised rate.
Located at Llanrumney Hall, a charity and community hub, the Pantry now has 261 members and over 300 applications to join.
The Pantry is only open to people who live in Llanrumney, but organisers say they have enough money to fund over 500 free memberships and want to support other areas in the city.
Sam Holt, who set up the project, said he believed it was the “fastest growing in the UK,” with over 230 members joining in the first three weeks and an average of 80 people visiting each Thursday when the Pantry is open.
“We’re at this tipping point,” he said. “We never expected to be here so quickly.
“Already we’re thinking maybe we need to open up another time slot, maybe Tuesday afternoon or evening, so that those in work or childcare commitments will be able to make it along.”
Unlike a traditional foodbank, the Pantry gives its members autonomy to shop for the items they need, explained Mr Holt, who called it a “community shop that people can access at good times and bad to help their money go further.”
“A retired lady said this was the first service for her that helped her and her husband. She came back the next week and told me it was the first time for a long time that she’d had breakfast cereal, because the price of cereal is quite expensive. It really hit home that this is an important service.”
“I want to be part of the Pantry, not just now but long-term” – Jess Fishlock, Welsh Women’s footballer
The Pantry has raised almost £8,000 from several high-profile figures, including £2,000 from the Principality Stadium and £1,000 donated by Welsh football player Jess Fishlock, who volunteered at the shop.
ITV Wales sports presenter Beth Fisher raised £1,500 for the Pantry in an online fundraiser called #WalesGoals, in which people donated money every time the women’s Welsh football team scored a goal.
The women’s Welsh football team supported the campaign, as did English and Olympic footballer Anita Asante.
Ms Fishlock, Wales’ most capped player, grew up in Llanrumney and volunteered at the Pantry.
“I want to be a part of the Pantry, not just now but in the long-term,” said Ms Fishlock between serving customers.
“I want to come down and do the volunteer work because this means a lot to me. I’m from Llanrumney, you know. My ma still lives her, my family grew up here. It means a lot to help the community, especially right now when there’s a lot of people out there who are really finding it hard.”
The Pantry is open every Thursday from 9am to 3pm. To find out more, visit the Llanrumney Hall website.
