Kingsborough Family Church pastor Reverend Tunde Balogun said Hillingdon Foodbank is up against a 'monstrous challenge' to find a new storage warehouse.
The foodbank has until January 13 to find a suitable replacement warehouse after the current lease expired in December.
The landlord of the warehouse, in Waterloo Road, Uxbridge, gave volunteers a few extra days over the Christmas holiday to find a new premises, but nothing suitable has yet been found and they are running out of time.
Reverend Tunde Balogun, Senior Pastor at Kingsborough Family Church - which runs the foodbank - said several people have been on the lookout for new sites.
“[Hillingdon Council] has kindly suggested and shown us two places, but both places would not address the immediate need of the foodbank, with the deadline to vacate the present premises that we have used as a warehouse for the past four years.
“We have only managed to run during that time on the resources from a local church organisation and more recently the growing financial support of a few more churches, organisations, the general public and the ever faithful support of our volunteers and partners from across the borough.”
The council has offered a site in Moorfield Road, Cowley, as a replacement, but it would only give the foodbank a licence of three months.
“The short nature of the licence in comparison to the cost and logistic of moving the Hillingdon Foodbank into the premises does not make the move worthwhile for a small organisation like ours,” Mr Balogun said.
“If we could be guaranteed the use for a longer term and if we could be given the liberty to maximise the use of the space then this offer will be more worth looking at.
Based on current use, the warehouse space required is approximately 5,000 sq. ft. It contains several tonnes of long life tinned and dry goods stored to help needy people.
The foodbank has provided emergency supplies to almost 5,000 people in the borough since it began in July 2009.
As well as food, the volunteers befriend and support visitors, and give practical help where possible, but they are already having to cut down the operation and distribution of food until a concrete solution is found.
Mr Balogun said: “We are very much under intense pressure and are looking at desperate measures to find a solution. If there is any help out there anyone in any capacity can give, or if you know someone that can help, we humbly ask you not to keep silent - act now.”
If you are able to provide suitable warehousing for Hillingdon Foodbank please call the newsdesk on 01895 451 036 or email zoe.drewett@trinitymirror.com.
