[News in The Villages]

Press Release — Provided by Wildwood Soup Kitchen Wildwood, FL —Nov. 6, 2025— For more than 30 years, the Wildwood Soup Kitchen has been a lifeline for individuals and families across Sumter County, including The Villages area. Each week, the 100% volunteer-run nonprofit provides over 4,000 free meals to the hungry, the homeless, and the

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[mraines]

Originally Posted by The Gazette

Press Release — Provided by Wildwood Soup Kitchen Wildwood, FL —Nov. 6, 2025— For more than 30 years, the Wildwood Soup Kitchen has been a lifeline for individuals and families across Sumter County, including The Villages area. Each week, the 100% volunteer-run nonprofit provides over 4,000 free meals to the hungry, the homeless, and the

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How can they reduce the size of use and double the rent? Especially in this time of need. This is unconscionable.

[Annie66]

The elders of the church must have a very cold heart. Maybe it is time for a overhaul of the church's leadership and replace it with young, compassionate Christians who will follow Christ's command to feed the poor.

[Angelhug52]

Very short notification to vacate! Wonder what the landlord was offered to get them out? Just seems fishy. Especially in this time of food insecurity.

[dougawhite]

Sammy's Restaurant on 301 just closed for good. Maybe that could be a good place to relocate to. It's within walking distance of Peppertree Apts, which house many low-income people.

[jimbo2012]

I read they have current rent of $2,000 a month, Sammy's would be way more $$$.

[Johnsocat]

I spoke to the church that has not only housed, but also regularly provided some financial assistance to the soup kitchen.
They simply do not have the space to accommodate the meal prep for 4-6 k people each week. Thier facilities are simply not large enough to efficiently accommodate the volume and time this prep involves. In other words, the kitchen has outgrown what the church can provide.
They have been asking them to look for an alternative location for some time now, and the soup kitchen has waited until the deadline the church gave them.
The impression that the church "Landlord" is booting them out with no notice is patently unfair.
However, the soup kitchen is a good thing for the hungry and , if you so desire, please consider helping them out if you can

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by Johnsocat

I spoke to the church that has not only housed, but also regularly provided some financial assistance to the soup kitchen.
They simply do not have the space to accommodate the meal prep for 4-6 k people each week. Thier facilities are simply not large enough to efficiently accommodate the volume and time this prep involves. In other words, the kitchen has outgrown what the church can provide.
They have been asking them to look for an alternative location for some time now, and the soup kitchen has waited until the deadline the church gave them.
The impression that the church "Landlord" is booting them out with no notice is patently unfair.
However, the soup kitchen is a good thing for the hungry and , if you so desire, please consider helping them out if you can

"And now for the rest of the story", as Paul Harvey would have said, for those who remember. The church was tarred and feathered before people even had the facts.
Good luck to the soup kitchen.

[Grill Meister]

I don't understand your comment about the church elders. Which church are you referring to that apparenly are not Christians. I know that our church, New Covenent United Methodist, contributes considerably to the kitchen. Do you really know what your are talking about!

[Normal]

Obviously a person wouldn’t donate to the Wildwood First Presbyterian Church of Wildwood who is closing it down for more rent.

If donations were made, what organization would receive the money and how do we know it would be independent of eventual extortion problems like we have in the current situation? My concern is later on after the 1.5 million dollar goal is reached, it gets muddled into a similar situation. 1.5 million buys a pretty nice piece of land in that section of Wildwood.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by Normal

Obviously a person wouldn’t donate to the Wildwood First Presbyterian Church of Wildwood who is closing it down for more rent.

If donations were made, what organization would receive the money and how do we know it would be independent of eventual extortion problems like we have in the current situation? My concern is later on after the 1.5 million dollar goal is reached, it gets muddled into a similar situation. 1.5 million buys a pretty nice piece of land in that section of Wildwood.

For heaven's sake, just donate to the soup kitchen and stop worrying about all of the what ifs. There is no extortion in the current situation, read the posts before making judgments.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by Aces4

For heaven's sake, just donate to the soup kitchen and stop worrying about all of the what ifs. There is no extortion in the current situation, read the posts before making judgments.

Of course we regularly donate food items, I’m just not disregarding all the posts you seem to have overlooked. IMHO large cash donations are on the sidelines until logistics and a new spot is placed in sight. By all means, keep giving to the kitchen.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Normal

Of course we regularly donate food items, I’m just not disregarding all the posts you seem to have overlooked. IMHO large cash donations are on the sidelines until logistics and a new spot is placed in sight. By all means, keep giving to the kitchen.

Which posts did you not disregard that led you question how donations to the Soup Kitchen to find/fund a new home might be extorted or "muddled into the similar situation?" I saw no posts implying anything of the sort was (or might be) happening.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Which posts did you not disregard that led you question how donations to the Soup Kitchen to find/fund a new home might be extorted or "muddled into the similar situation?" I saw no posts implying anything of the sort was (or might be) happening.

Posts #3,4 and 9.

We love giving food items to the kitchen and this shouldn’t be stopped, especially now! I’m just saying blind giving is more like a 20to 50 dollar range for us. The more serious cash gifts/donations need more direction for us. To us larger amounts wouldn’t be just thrown into the collection hat being passed around.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Normal

Posts #3,4 and 9.

We love giving food items to the kitchen and this shouldn’t be stopped, especially now! I’m just saying blind giving is more like a 20to 50 dollar range for us. The more serious cash gifts/donations need more direction for us. To us larger amounts wouldn’t be just thrown into the collection hat being passed around.

It seems like you are conflating the church and the soup kitchen. No matter…you do what is right for you and others will do what is right for them.