A BASINGSTOKE charity that saves food from going to landfill and feeds more than 2,000 people in the town every week is making one last desperate plea for help to save it from closure.

As previously reported, Community Food Link (CFL) is under threat of closure if it does not find a new premises before the end of July.

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The charity launched two years ago during lockdown, with volunteers collecting fresh food from supermarkets in the town that cannot be sold and would normally go to landfill.

Volunteers then sort and repack the food to deliver to charities and churches in Basingstoke to distribute to those in need.

CFL now provides around 2,000 people with food every week and has delivered more than 150,000 meals since it launched in 2020.

The charity is now in desperate need of a new premises because the church where it runs needs the space back.

CFL is based at the URC church in London Street, where volunteers sort and pack the donated food.

However, as URC restarts activities post Covid it now needs the space and it has asked CFL to vacate as soon as possible.

The charity is currently making more than 50 collections a week from supermarkets in the town and has more than 50 volunteers working an average of 180 hours a week to help the local community.

Penny Dilley, who set up the charity, said: “We have tried all of our outlets and gone to the churches and council and no one has come back to us. It’s rather disappointing.”

CFL will have to move out of the church on August 31 and has set a deadline to find a new premises by the end of July, when a final decision will be made on its future.

“It will be a great shame if we have to close,” said Penny, adding: “We’re feeding 2,000 a week now so it will be a significant loss. We have spent the last few years building relationships with the supermarkets which has taken time and commitment. The food we pick up will go to landfill and won’t be used. We are picking up a huge amount of food from the stores.”

Penny said the charity is prepared to accept a temporary solution if someone was able to offer this until it is able to find somewhere permanent.

She added: “We do have some funding so we can pay a small rent. In today’s world, this sort of charity is beneficial to the whole of society.”

If you can help CFL in its search for a new premises email contact@bcfd.org.uk.

CFL is part of the Starfish Enterprise Trust charity and run by a small team of people from churches around Basingstoke.

To find out more about the project or to make a donation visit bcfd.org.uk.

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