"...for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me...." — Matthew 25:35

Location

At the First Presbyterian Church
203 Barwick Street
Wildwood, FL 34785
Phone: 352—748—1008

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Our Mission

The Wildwood Soup Kitchen is a shared ministry, an ecumenical effort by Christian churches and one temple in the Wildwood, Florida area.  Our mission is simple: to provide healthy, appetizing meals at no cost to all who come to us hungry, and to deliver these same meals to area shut-ins and others who are unable to visit the Soup Kitchen. We also provide a place of hospitality and fellowship for the lonely. Everyone is welcome,regardless of race, sex, age, national origin, religious preference, handicap or income.

The Soup Kitchen was first located at the Assembly of God Church in Oxford, FL in 1992. On that first day we served 20 guests and delivered five meals. In 1994 we moved to our current location, and today we and today we prepare and serve or deliver well over 250 meals a day, six days a week, Monday through Saturday.

In 2011, we served and delivered over 75,000 meals. This growing need is met through the continued dedication of our volunteers and the generosity of those who contribute to this ministry.

 

Our Volunteers

The Wildwood Soup Kitchen is staffed by over 160 caring and loving volunteers inspired by the Gospel mandate to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, and welcome the stranger. We have no paid employees.

Do you like to cook? Or help out in the kitchen? Or serve meals? We have an ongoing need for kitchen volunteers, especially during the summer months.

We need drivers to deliver meals to shut-ins, the elderly, and those recovering from illness or surgery. In 2010 we had 4 delivery routes, taking meals to over 110 guests.  And we also have some specialized needs:

• volunteers to collect donated foods from supermarkets and other businesses;
• substitutes willing to drive or help in the kitchen on short notice;
• bakers to prepare desserts (pies, cakes, etc.) at home and deliver them to the Soup Kitchen.

If you would like to volunteer, please send us your name, phone number, and the type of volunteer work you prefer, either to our mailing address or our email address;  someone will contact you.

 

How You Can Help

Financial Donations Needed

We rely totally on the generosity of individuals, churches, and local businesses for our funding. As a non-profit organization dedicated to feeding the hungry, we gladly accept and greatly appreciate any and all donations.

Please mail financial donations (check or money order made out to the Wildwood Soup Kitchen) to our mailing address:

Treasurer
Wildwood Soup Kitchen
P. O. Box 1762
Wildwood, FL 34785

Food Donations Needed

Our most pressing needs are for the food items listed here:

• Canned vegetables (#10 cans: mixed vegetables, carrots, peas, corn, yams, beans, etc.);
• Canned fruits (#10 cans: peaches, pears, pineapple, applesauce, fruit cocktail);
• Canned soups (cream soups, tomato soups. . . .);
• Canned tomato products & spaghetti sauce;
• Canned tuna and pink salmon;
• Rice & pasta (spaghetti, macaroni, wide noodles), preferably in bulk.

Generally, we do not want donations of perishable items, paper products, prepared foods, breakfast cereals, etc.   Please deliver all food donations to the Wildwood Soup Kitchen, Monday through Saturday between 8 a.m. and noon.  lf you are unable to deliver the food yourself, call us during these same hours and we will arrange to have your donation picked up.

An Ecumenical Ministry

The Wildwood Soup Kitchen is a true ecumenical effort, a ministry that draws dedicated volunteers from many local congregations. Our heartfelt thanks to all for their continued support:

Christian Church at Continental
First Baptist Church of Leesburg
First Baptist Church of Oxford
First Baptist Church of the Villages
First Baptist Church of Wildwood
First Presbyterian Church of Wildwood
Hope Lutheran Church
Lake Square Presbyterian Church
New Bethel
New Covenant United Methodist Church
New Creation Worship
New Life Presbyterian Church
North Lake Presbyterian Church
Oxford Assembly of God
Oxford United Methodist Church
Pilgrim's United Church of Christ
Rock of Ages Lutheran Church
St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church
St. Paul Catholic Church
St. Timothy Catholic Church
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
Temple Shalom Congregation
Union Congregational Church of Tavares

These religious communities support the soup kitchen by providing volunteers and, in many instances, through regular financial contributions.

Emergency Services

During emergency situations the Wildwood Soup Kitchen partners with the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army to provide hot meals for those who take refuge in local emergency shelters. We also provide meals for mobile canteens that serve both victims and emergency workers.

Hours of Operation

The Wildwood Soup Kitchen serves a free hot meal to our walk-in guests Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.    We are open ALL holidays.

To arrange for home delivery of a daily meal to a person living in the Wildwood area, please call the soup kitchen at (352) 748-1008, Monday through Saturday between 8 a.m. and noon.

How to Contact Us

Location: The Wildwood Soup Kitchen is located in the fellowship hall of the First Presbyterian Church of Wildwood at 203 Barwick Street, Wildwood, FL.

Mailing Address:

Wildwood Soup Kitchen
P.O. Box 1762
Wildwood, FL 34785

Phone/Fax: (352) 748-1008

Email: mail@wildwoodsoupkitchen.com

Website: www.wildwoodsoupkitchen.com