Urban Ministry Center - Charlotte’s Daily Soup Kitchen

11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. every day of the year. The Soup Kitchen first opened in 1979 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church and moved in 1994 to the Urban Ministry Center, where it has been in continuous operation ever since. Today, it remains the largest, oldest Charlotte soup kitchen and the only one that serves a hot, nutritious lunch 365 days a year, with no questions asked. We welcome anyone who is in need of a meal, regardless of the person's circumstance. In our 30-plus year history, we have always fulfilled our basic promise to feed hungry people despite ice storms, heat waves, power outages and increasing demand. The Soup Kitchen operates with a different volunteer crew each day (300 volunteers each month), under the direction of a full-time manager and part-time assistant. In 2013 we served 99,230 lunches and over 1.5 million since our center's inception. The Soup Kitchen meets a critical, basic need not only by reliably meeting the growing demand for food but also by offering a welcoming front door for people living on the streets. The kitchen serves as the entry point to the continuum of services available through the Urban Ministry Center and the Homeless Services Network. We're the first place homeless neighbors turn to for food and basic services, which in turn creates the opportunity for helping address the core issues that impact their lives.