The Nowra Community Food Store, unless someone steps forward and takes over from manager Helen Esdaile, is in danger of closing.
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The South Nowra-based Food Store has been providing people with affordable and quality goods for more than a decade.
However, come June 30, unless a group or individual steps up, the store could close.
For family reasons Mrs Esdaile is stepping aside and needs someone else to run the store.
"I would be very sad if it was to close," she said.
"I am, however, looking forward to it going to new hands."
She pushed to have the store open over 14-years-ago and it has been providing an important service ever since.
The Food Store, even on a quiet day like Thursday, was busy with people coming in to purchase their affordable and good quality food staples.
"People absolutely need this facility," she said.
"The model of the facility is that it helps people to get groceries within their price bracket.
"It also gives them the freedom to go to the other supermarkets to get the goods they can't secure from us and then they still have money left over to pay bills or even to be able to put some money aside."
She said hundreds of people use the food store each week.
Mrs Esdaile hopes that someone will take over but as yet "nothing is certain".
"I am hopeful and have had people express interest, but they just have not got back to me yet," she said.
The store remained open throughout the worst past of COVID-19 last year.
Foodbank Australia, which supports the South Nowra-based store, is committed to keeping the facility open.
"They [Foodbank] sees the value of the organisation," she said.
People can contact the group on Facebook or can email Damian McGill at damian.mcgill@austcommunitymedia.com.au and he will pass on your contact details.
Whoever takes over will have to be or become an incorporated charity and Foodbank Australia will give someone a grace period while they become incorporated.
Those who man the store are a mix of paid staff and volunteers.
Mrs Esdaile, who is also the director of Australian Mercy Shoalhaven, said the team at the store had built up a family-type relationship.
She said staff members have expertise which was worth keeping.
The volunteers have indicated they would like to stay on - if and when someone takes over.
"They have a circle of friends they can be involved with even out of the store," Mrs Esdaile said.
