The Lake Cowichan Food Bank Society will be homeless by Aug. 26 if the community doesn't step up to the plate and help them find new accommodations.
"It is a dire situation," said Katherine Worsley, the society's treasurer, as she, along with President Betty Sanddar and Cindy Vaast, secretary and coordinator of hampers and volunteers, reached out to the community for assistance.
The food bank is currently renting space at the Lake Cowichan Christian Fellowship Church, but the church is moving and has notified the society that the food bank will not be able to make the move with the congregation.
The food bank serves about five per cent of the Cowichan Lake area's 7,000 residents, Worsley said, though the numbers fluctuate with the time of year.
"That's a lot of people that count on us," she said.
They have been in their current location for 15 years, and the food bank has been in operation for close to 25 years.
The volunteer-based organization does not have a lot of funds to pay rent or hydro bills, and is hoping that someone in the community will step up with a suitable location that won't break the bank.
In spite of the hurdle in front of them, the society is asking anyone with extra fruit or garden vegetables to contact them so they can be distributed before their next distribution day on Aug. 13.
They also gratefully receive donations and are a registered charity.
If you know of a space where the food bank can move, call society President Betty Sanddar at 250-749-4802.