Soup Kitchen in Wildwood Moving to Larger Location

WILDWOOD, FL — Wildwood Soup Kitchen is targeting a May 15 reopening at 610 N Main St, Wildwood, FL 34785, relocating from its longtime home at 203 Barwick St to accommodate growing demand, General Manager Jeffrey Hetrick told Business Debut. The nonprofit has served the community since 1991 and has operated out of the First Presbyterian Church of Wildwood since 1994.

The move comes in response to rising food insecurity in the area, with meals served increasing 20 percent per week over the past year. The organization now prepares more than 16,000 meals per month, according to Hetrick.

What to Expect

The new 3,500-square-foot space, roughly 1,000 square feet larger than the current location, will allow the team to transition from a church kitchen setup into a fully institutional kitchen designed for high-volume meal preparation.

“We’ve outgrown the current location and we needed more room to expand as the need and demand has gone up for our services,” Hetrick told Business Debut .

Once open, Wildwood Soup Kitchen will serve lunch six days a week, Monday through Saturday, with guests receiving a dine-in meal and a take-home soup to ensure they have both lunch and dinner covered. The organization will also continue five-day-a-week homebound meal deliveries.

Menu and Vision

Wildwood Soup Kitchen is a Christian-based nonprofit not affiliated with a specific church or denomination. It remains fully volunteer-run with no paid employees.

Hetrick, who serves as general manager and on the board of directors, oversees daily operations and volunteer coordination. “Living in the country that we live in, which is a country of abundance, nobody should go hungry,” he told Business Debut .

The nonprofit partners with Feeding Tampa Bay, part of Feeding America, and receives donations from area grocers including Publix, Aldi and Walmart. Hetrick credited the broader community, including residents of The Villages, for their ongoing support. “Just because we’re retired doesn’t mean we’re not capable of doing great things,” he said .

He also thanked First Presbyterian Church of Wildwood for hosting the organization for 34 years, as well as the board of directors, volunteers and donors who sustain the mission. Board leadership includes President Barbara McManus and Vice President Greg Nicoletti.

Opening Timeline

The relocation effort began in June or July of last year after the new building became available. The organization raised $1.5 million to purchase the property and set a $600,000 goal for renovations.

To date, nearly $2 million has been raised, leaving the nonprofit approximately $200,000 short of its debt-free goal, according to Hetrick .

“We’ve been extremely blessed by the amazing outpouring of generosity and support that we’ve received from our donors,” he told Business Debut .

Hours

Beginning May 15, Wildwood Soup Kitchen plans to operate Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Follow for More

For more information, to volunteer or to donate, visit their Website and follow on Facebook. Donations can also be made online or by mail to P.O. Box 1762, Wildwood, FL 34785.