Soup Kitchen Relocates to Permanent Site

After feeding the hungry for nearly 10 years from various rented sites, Someone Cares Soup Kitchen finally has a home--and a kitchen--of its own.

The nonprofit organization has relocated its management headquarters and dining facilities, which had been at separate locations on Hamilton Street, to a former restaurant site at 720 W. 19th St.

Volunteers who have served up meals at several locations in the past few years said that Monday’s move is considered permanent.

“The other place we were just renting,” said Andy Amaya, manager of the charity. “Here we had an opportunity to buy the building. It’s a great location, a perfect spot for us.”

The new digs once housed the Our House coffee shop, which closed a year ago. Before that, a Chinese restaurant operated there. The sale price was not disclosed.

Someone Cares formerly operated from the Rea Community Center, at 661 Hamilton St., which is headquarters for several social services agencies. The kitchen fed clients at a nearby church.

About 160 people a day receive hot meals from the organization, a number expected to grow now that the charity has a permanent home and more space, Amaya said.