Originally published in our third print issue, Greater Govanhill met Ghulum Wali from The People’s Pantry. Ghulum discusses his role at the pantry as well as how he became a volunteer.

As told to Rhiannon Davies | Photos by Eoin Carey

I’m originally from Huddersfield, but I moved to the area in 1981. I’ve been here ever since. Never had any trouble, or any reason to move.

I used to work in the Job Centre, but I had an accident and spent six weeks in hospital. Now I have a disability and health issues. Previously I’d worked five days a week, so I got bored when I was in the house all the time. I started looking for volunteer jobs and helped out at Cancer Support Scotland before I got involved with the Govanhill Baths Community Trust.

I heard they were opening the pantry and we had built up a trust when I volunteered at the shop, so they asked me to get involved. I check stock, serve customers, stack the shelves. I speak Punjabi and this can be useful for interpreting for some of the people who visit the pantry. I can understand Urdu too.

I get a lot of satisfaction from helping people in need. They might have nothing, be living on the breadline, hand to mouth. You get to know people who come in. You talk to them and give them something extra, they might arrive unhappy but leave with a smile on their face. You help one person, and they go and tell another.

One time, we got a donation of bunches of flowers from Marks and Spencer. We gave them to everyone who came in. One lady burst into tears. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had flowers.

The pantry is not just for people who are unemployed. In this day and age, during the pandemic with businesses shutting, people being on furlough, anyone can find it hard. Even if you’re fine one week, you might not be the next. Food can be so expensive, not everyone can afford it.

Some people come in to get cereal and milk to feed the kids, or just get the bare minimum to make a good meal. Others come for the fresh fruit and vegetables. Some of the older ladies I know come for the corned beef or the canned steak and kidney pie. I help them to carry it when they can’t.

I like to share food, so bring in dishes for the rest of the team, things like boiled rice, lentil daal, chickpea chaat, samosa. Chickpea salad is my speciality, but I shared the recipe with the team.

I’m a full-time carer for my mother. She’s nearly 87 and housebound. We have good days and bad days, but I never complain. You have to make the most of the time you have with your parents and look after them while they’re here. In our culture, we would never send an older relative to a nursing home. Sometimes I want to scream, but when I leave the house to go to my volunteer job, I feel like I’m shaking it off. It clears my head.

You meet people from all different walks of life, people from very different backgrounds to me. But I learn something from them and I hope they can learn something from me. If something goes wrong, we have a laugh. I always say there’s no use crying over spilt milk. Instead, it’s good to forget your worries for a wee while, and just get on with it.

Anyone who lives in the G41 and G42 postcode areas can become a member of The People’s Pantry for £3.50 a year. They can then do a weekly shop for £2.50, which provides a minimum of £15 worth of food. There is currently a waiting list to join.