Florida Soup Kitchen Faces Eviction After Church Raises Rent, Cuts Operation Hours

The Wildwood Soup Kitchen faces eviction from its longtime church location after receiving an ultimatum from its landlord. Board president Barbara McManus said the First Presbyterian Church of Wildwood gave them two choices in an October 16 letter: accept higher rent with reduced space and operating hours, or vacate by December 31. “We received a letter from our landlord saying we are to leave by the end of the year or we would have a higher rent and we would have to limit the amount of time we have in this building,” McManus said. The organization serves approximately 17,000 meals monthly to around 1,000 Sumter County residents, many homebound seniors. McManus said they’ve raised $100,000 toward purchasing a $1.5 million building but hopes the church will extend the deadline. “Dec. 31 is right after the holidays, and we serve so many people,” she said. (Story URL)