Catherine Griffiths from the new Pantri Aber in Aberystwyth talks about the revelatory moment that led to her opening a Pantry.
I have volunteered at the local food bank for the last ten years and I was the food bank co-ordinator for the last four years.
During that time, I chatted to regulars at the food bank and they shared some of the ups and downs of their lives. However, the only place we could talk was the thoroughfare of the church porch.
In the Spring of 2025, I started buying fresh locally-grown fruit and vegetables for the food bank and putting the fresh produce on the porch table for people to choose their own. It was a revelation to me how much people coming to the food bank appreciated being able to select what they would like to have.
It gave them a feeling of self-respect which moved several people to tears. Also, when people came back for their next visit, they started talking about what they had cooked with the vegetables and how delicious the meals had been. Also, parents explained how their children had enjoyed eating fresh fruit as an energy boost after school.
At the same time, I started researching how other churches in Wales run their food banks and I came across River Church in Blackwood. Tara from River Church Pantry explained how food pantries are different to food banks and I contacted James from Your Local Pantry. In September 2025, I visited Heidi and Dylan at Hope Pantry in Merthyr Tydfil and finally saw a Your Local Pantry food pantry in action!
After setting up as a charity, opening a bank account, finding a location and applying for and receiving grants, Pantri Aber started very recently.
We opened once a week as a Warm Welcome Space in April 2026 and fully on 7th August 2026.
So far we have 60 approved members and Pantri Aber is helping 57 adults and 20 children. We asked for more volunteers in mid-July and people came forward from four local chapels and churches so we are now quite an ecumenical group and it is great to see how the volunteers are getting to know each other from week to week and are enjoying giving a friendly welcome at Pantri Aber.
The response from the local community has been very enthusiastic and members have been glad that we opened in August when several other local forms of support are closed for their volunteers to have a summer break. We hope that Pantri Aber will go from strength to strength with the support of Your Local Pantry.
Changing the changers: What happens when we start listening?
