History

Times were tough in 2008 as the U.S. faced an economic downturn and many people in the Charlotte Community were going hungry. Seeing the need and deciding to act, an idea from a Dilworth resident inspired the Reverend of the First Christian Church to help co-found the Dilworth Soup Kitchen. On December 24, 2008, DSK served its first meal of soup and bread, feeding five grateful guests and 17 willing volunteers.

For years, DSK welcomed guests to our dining room one day a week where they were served restaurant-style meals. With the onset of COVID in March of 2020, we had to modify our approach to adhere to state protocols and transitioned to a take-out lunch model only. We doubled the number of days we served meals and quadrupled the number of people we reached. Because we can serve significantly more people, we have continued with a take-out meal approach.

Today our non-profit soup kitchen provides more than 200 free lunches every Monday and every Friday of the year. Anyone and everyone is welcome, no questions asked. As the demand grew, we expanded our services to include free groceries to help sustain our guests until they could come for the next meal. In August of 2021, we began offering canned foods and non-perishable items to our guests and in December of 2023, we opened a new Food Pantry where our guests can make an appointment to shop for free groceries.

We also added an outreach program where we deliver free lunches every week to those citizens living in area housing projects who need food but are unable to come to us.

In 2024 we will serve over 21,000 lunches, distribute 20,000 pounds of fresh groceries and 46,000 pounds of non-perishable foods. We will provide an additional 20,000 pounds of food through our new guest grocery shopping service which will feed 30 families or 125 adults and children.

Many local businesses and organizations support our efforts by providing excess food for groceries or entrees for one of our weekly meals. Working together with our partners has allowed us to improve overall access to healthy food for individuals and families in need. (see Partners for more information)

Dilworth Soup Kitchen is an all-volunteer organization operated by a volunteer Board of Directors with no paid full-time staff. We have no regular source of funding and rely entirely on the support of the local community to meet the ever-increasing demand. All donations go directly to feeding the hungry.

“Serving Food and Fellowship with Equal Helpings of Dignity and Respect”