Donations

We welcome and encourage both financial and food donations.  Financial donations allow us to purchase needed foods that are not donated and to purchase serving supplies.  They also help us to maintain and upgrade our kitchen and dining facility.

Financial Donations

The Wildwood Soup Kitchen is a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to feeding the hungry. We receive no financial support from the government -- local, state or federal -- and rely completely on the generosity of  individuals, churches, civic organizations, and businesses. We gladly accept and greatly appreciate any and all donations. Your donation is tax-exempt.

Check or Money Order Donations

Please send financial donations (check or money order made out to the "Wildwood Soup Kitchen") to our mailing address.  Click here to download a copy of our donation form (in PDF format). Simply fill it out and then mail it to the Wildwood Soup Kitchen at the address displayed in the left panel of this page.

If you have questions, you may email our treasurer.

Donations Made with Credit Cards

You may also donate by using the PayPal by [clicking here].  We prefer a check since PayPal deducts a small amount of the donation to process the transaction.

Donations Made through your will

Would you consider donating to the Wildwood Soup Kitchen through your will?   Click here to download details.

Stock and Mutual Fund Donations

We do accept stock and mutual fund donations.  Please email us for further information.

Food Donations

We welcome and encourage food donations. If possible, please deliver all food donations directly to the Soup Kitchen, Monday through Saturday between 8 a.m. and noon. If for whatever reason you are unable to deliver the food yourself, please call the Soup Kitchen during these same hours and we will arrange to have the donation picked up.

If you wish to donate food products to the Wildwood Soup Kitchen, the most useful items are basic food staples; e.g., canned vegetables and fruits, pasta, rice, etc. (See the list below.)  The Wildwood Soup Kitchen almost daily supports other food banks and kitchens in the Sumter County area by sharing supplies and excess items of things we are unable to use.

With respect to the canned goods, the larger the cans, the better; although we certainly accept small cans of any needed products.

Generally, we do not want donations of perishable items, paper products, prepared foods, breakfast cereals, etc. The only real exception is sugar-free desserts, for which we have a continual need. We also cannot accept food in previously opened packages

Here is a more extensive list of the kinds of items we need and use almost every week:
Please note:  Large size cans are especially helpful.

  • Canned green beans, mixed vegetables, carrots, peas and corn
  • Canned peaches, pears, pineapple, applesauce, fruit cocktail
  • Canned beans of any variety
  • Canned tomato products (diced, crushed, paste, sauce)
  • Canned sweet potatoes or yams
  • Canned tuna and pink salmon
  • Canned soups
  • Rice
  • Spaghetti sauce
  • Crackers

Snack Packs Items needed:

  • Individually wrapped granola bars or cereal bars
  • Fruit cups and applesauce cups
  • Pudding cups
  • Individual potted meat (Vienna sausages)
  • Individual tuna packs, prefer the aluminum sided soft packs
  • Juice boxes
  • Individual boxes of shelf stable milk (really like this item)
  • Cheese and peanut butter crackers (individual)
  • Individual bags chips
  • Any individually packaged items

If you have a question about what to donate, please don't hesitate to call the soup kitchen between 8 a.m. and noon, Monday through Saturday, at (352) 748-1008.

God bless you and thank you for your generosity.