‘The kindness makes such a huge difference’
NATIONAL LOTTERY-FUNDED FLOURISH COMMUNITY PANTRY HAS CREATED A VITAL SPACE
WHEN Jan St John’s daughter was diagnosed with cancer, she turned to a community project for support.
Life has been tough for a lot of people this year but Jan, 63, and her family, who live in Tremorfa in Cardiff, have had a particularly rough time. In May, the family learned Jan’s daughter, Lynette, had lung cancer. Just months later, on November 3, Lynette passed away.
“It was such a hard time for us all,” says Jan, who cares for Lynette’s fiveyear-old daughter and five sons. “They all live with me now. The eldest is 22 and they eat for Britain,” says Jan. “You know what teenagers are like. It’s financial hardship really – I can’t keep my cupboards stocked.”
During these dark days, Jan has found support from the Flourish Community Pantry, an initiative run by local families using surplus food from supermarkets and local businesses, with support from The National Lottery. “They’ve shown our family such kindness and it makes such a huge difference. It’s not just about meals. They hold a community wardrobe day where people can pick up clothes they need.”
Jenny Ashton, 36, from Tremorfa has been helping out at Flourish for a year. “We all feel like we get so much from being members,” she says. “We started as a small community larder helping a couple of dozen people and we’ve grown. Now 10 of us help distribute a tonne of food every week, as well as helping with clothes and things if a family needs extra support. It makes you happy on the inside.”
As for Jan, she says the pantry has been a godsend. “I can’t stress enough how much Flourish has kept me going. They’ve got a little garden with seats and before the recent lockdown restrictions came in, I’d sit and have a cup of coffee there. I don’t know how I would have managed without them.
“When times are better for me, I want to put back into the group and offer some support to others.” By playing The National Lottery, you raise £30* million pounds for good causes like this every week.
‘When times are better for me I want to offer support to others’