The Essex Area Food Bank needs Essex Town Council's help finding a new home.
Officials will make a presentation before the council on Monday night.
Currently, the food bank is in the lower gym of the Essex United Church. The agreement is only short-term, and it fears it will be forced to move again within a year.
The food bank first opened in a family garage 35 years ago. It then entered a 25-year agreement with the Greater Essex County District School Board. Before the pandemic, it called Sun Parlour Junior Public School home.
When the agreement ended, it started looking for a new location.
It thought it had the perfect spot inside the former Schinkels' Meat location with its rear entrance for clients, parking, and a walk-in freezer. It was ready to sign papers with the landlord when it received a letter from the Town of Essex saying it would not be welcome in the business district.
Now, it is asking town councillors to either change the bylaw prohibiting food banks from locating in Essex Centre or offer a site where it can build a new facility. A presentation expected on Monday night states it is prepared to pay rent to the town or find a way to pay for construction.
The Essex Area Food Bank serves 240 people each week, and is the third-largest in the region. It relies on donations from the public and spends about $132,000 at Essex grocery stores annually.
