Some families are resorting to food banks and other assistance programmes. 

MS Sian Gwenllian and MP Hywel Williams recently organised a Christmas fundraiser that raised £4,765 for food scheme initiatives in the area to address this pressing need. 

While expressing gratitude for the generosity of Arfon’s residents, Gwenllian remarked that the number of food initiatives in the area is “an indictment of the years of austerity” and that many families are still enduring “a winter of hardship and desperation.”

The previous year, politicians prioritised fundraising for the Bangor Cathedral and the Arfon Food Bank.

This year, however, it was determined that the funds would be divided equally between other projects.The benefiting organisations include: the Arfon Foodbank, Caernarfon Food Bank, Coed Mawr Foodbank, Bwyd I Bawb Bangor Fareshare, Yr Orsaf’s Food Scheme, Penygroes, Porthi Dre, Caernarfon, Pantri Pesda, Bethesda, Cwm-y-Glo and Llanrug Food Scheme, and Bangor Cathedral Food Bank.

The Bwyd I Bawb One initiative that will be bolstered is Bangor Food Share, which distributes surplus, high-quality food to those in need in the community. The initiative is administered by councillors and volunteers from the Plaid Cymru office on Bangor High Street. 

Established nearly five years ago, the programme does not require a referral or formal verification of income; anyone in need can receive food every Sunday at 10 a.m. until supplies run out. 

During the pandemic, according to the politicians, there was an “increase in users” of the programme.

Caernarfon’s Porthi Dre project, which distributes supermarket surplus, donated food, and fresh vegetables produced by volunteers on a local allotment, will also receive funding. The Coed Mawr Community Centre food bank in Bangor, the Llanrug and Cwm-y-Glo Community Council and volunteers’ food scheme, and Pantri Pesda on Bethesda High Street are also recipients. 

The latter distributes high-quality, surplus supermarket food that would otherwise be discarded and provides food packages to those in need. In addition, the project will serve as a community centre.