An Ipswich food bank has been granted extra time to find a new home - as it goes through one of its busiest periods in years.
In November, Families IN Need (FIND), a charity set up to supply food parcels and emergency support to hard up families, was told it would have to leave its headquarters in Ipswich as the site had been earmarked for development.
The charity were told they had until mid-February to move out so started the daunting challenge of finding a suitable space and appealed to landlords and organisations for help.
However, the charity has received a welcome reprieve and now has until September 15 to move on.
Maureen Reynal MBE who founded the charity in 1990, said she was delighted the charity had been given more time as it had received a recent influx of families in need of its support.
“We recently received a letter from our landlord, the East of England Co-op, giving us more time. We now have until September 14.
“They have been very understanding and are helping us to find a new home.
“I’m jolly glad we didn’t have to move this month.
“I don’t know why, whether it is because of universal credit or that it is half term, but we have been very busy.
“On Wednesday I had 34 food parcel referrals just in one day.
“This morning we have had 17 so far and they will keep coming in.
“Every day there are new names added to the list of those in need.
“It is horrendously busy.”
Ms Reynal said she was working closely with Ipswich Borough Council and the East of England Co-op to find a suitable building to move to.
She said it would be a difficult task as the charity has specific requirements - including the need for lots of space for stock and nearby parking for its army of volunteers.
Ms Reynal said: “Things are moving forward and there is a great working relationship between the council, co-op and the charity.
“It needs to be large enough space so we can package up food from the supermarkets so we have enough parcels to send out every week.”
The charity is renewing its appeal for anyone who may have a large space available for them to use to get in touch on 01473 833351.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here