A VITAL charity in the Upper Murray is still in limbo as it rallies to find a permanent home.
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Corryong FoodShare Services has operated from the Corryong Scout Hall for the past 15 years on the proviso it would move out should the Scouts need it back.
With the Scouts reforming last year, Corryong FoodShare hoped to raise $160,000 by last week to buy a new building.
With 120 clients on its books, Corryong FoodShare has been a lifeline for people recovering from the summer bushfire crisis last year.
Corryong FoodShare Services spokeswoman Pastor Carol Allen said they would widen their fundraising net.
"We're still at a crossroads," she said.
"We'll try writing letters to companies to see if they can get on board.
"Towong Shire doesn't have large grants for buying buildings; smaller grants are available to us for emergency relief for clients.
"The Scouts reformed last year and they have met at the Memorial Hall until we're able to vacate."
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Named joint Towong Shire Citizen of the Year - Corryong on Australia Day, Mrs Allen said they had hoped to buy Corryong hospital's gymnasium building on Jardine Street.
She said time was running out to secure that building.
"The hospital wants to sell the old gym building and we need $150,000 to $160,000 for it," Mrs Allen said.
"It is fit-for-purpose; this is what we need to store the food and the furniture and it's a permanent home for us."
Mrs Allen said among their emergency services, water was still a priority for residents recovering from the bushfire crisis.
"People still need to get water because the creeks are so dirty and full of run-off and erosion; Nariel Valley residents can't use the water in their creeks at all it's so dirty," she said.
"Since Christmas we've provided half a dozen water pods (1000 litres) at $500 a pop."
Having started at the Corryong hospital during 1997, Corryong FoodShare today has 120 clients, up from 30 regulars before the summer bushfire crisis.
The service covers 4000 square kilometres around Corryong, more than half the size of Towong Shire itself.
It gets referrals from Gateway Health (Wodonga), Albury Wodonga Health and Corryong Health.
Together with the volunteers and husband Pastor Douglas Allen, Mrs Allen has got emergency food deliveries to all ends of the valley including Nariel Valley, Cudgewa, Lucyvale, Walwa, Khancoban, Thowgla Valley, Biggara and Corryong.
To donate visit corryong.asn.au or contact Carol Allen on 0427 762 051.
