Amid strong demand for its services, an Ipswich food charity is being forced to close in a devastating blow for those in need.
One of Ipswich's biggest food charities has been forced to close after the building's owner revoked its lease. The doors at Ipswich Foodbarn will open for the last time on Saturday, bringing an end to a 14-year service that has provided low-cost groceries, laundry facilities and domestic violence support.
"I think it's going to be catastrophic for a lot of people," Ipswich resident and Foodbarn customer Elizabeth Dite said. "I think this place gives people a lot of hope that they can continue to pay for the things that are becoming expensive, like rent. " Ipswich Foodbarn General Manager Qim Kauwhata said the building's owner was moving his furniture business into the warehouse where the service has been operating out of. "Now everything's starting to sink in.
Everything has just become real, that we have to leave," she said.
"There's no real good time for this to happen but if we were to pick a time now wouldn't be it with the rising fuel costs. "She said the charity helped between 5,000 and 9,000 people every week, adding she was most concerned about the impact the closure would have on domestic violence victims.
Calls for council intervention Since receiving its 30-day vacate notice, Ipswich Foodbarn has run a last-ditch appeal on social media hoping someone might come forward and offer them a new home. The charity staged a last-ditch social media appeal, hoping someone would offer up a new space for them to operate out of.
"But still nothing. We haven't received anything from anyone," she said. But Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said council officers had been in touch with Ipswich Foodbarn to 'provide practical support and advice' in finding a new location.
"While Ipswich Foodbarn is eligible to apply for a range of community funding programs that are offered by council, we are typically not the level of government that would provide significant financial assistance or accommodation to support community service providers," she said. Ipswich resident and long-time customer Davina Daylight said she would most miss the sense of community Foodbarn brought.
Cost Of Living Crisis Ipswich Foodbarn Charity Food Charity Cost Of Living Food Bank Groceries Charities Ipswich City Council
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