Coronavirus: After Springfield Soup Kitchen closed, a local food truck stepped in

Rae’lyn Moore, 4, gets a free meal from Kim Poole, owner of Freddie’s Franks & Burgers food truck, Wednesday. Due to the coronavirus, the Springfield Soup Kitchen is not allowed to open, so they got Kim and her husband, Fred, to park their food truck in the parking lot across the street from the soup kitchen and are feeding people outdoors. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Rae’lyn Moore, 4, gets a free meal from Kim Poole, owner of Freddie’s Franks & Burgers food truck, Wednesday. Due to the coronavirus, the Springfield Soup Kitchen is not allowed to open, so they got Kim and her husband, Fred, to park their food truck in the parking lot across the street from the soup kitchen and are feeding people outdoors. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

The Springfield Soup Kitchen is closed until further notice due to COVID-19, or coronavirus, concerns.

The kitchen announced last week on its Facebook page it would be closing. While the inside of the kitchen remains closed, residents will instead be able to receive hot dinners from Freddie’s Franks & Burgers food truck.

“Since many would not eat and are dependent on the soup kitchen, the kitchen has sponsored Freddie’s food truck for their services,” the kitchen’s owner, Fred Stegner said. “The food truck will be stationed in the soup kitchen parking lot every Monday and Wednesday from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. Hot food will be available specifically for those in need at no cost.”

Wednesday was the first day the truck was used to feed residents, Stegner said, and over 125 residents were served burgers, potato salad and coleslaw.

“All were not disappointed,” Stegner said. “Rain hampered many but the food was very needed.”

The Springfield Soup Kitchen, which is located at 830 W. Main St. in Springfield, is a non-profit which serves the homeless and those in need. The kitchen runs exclusively on donations. Those interested in donating can do so at the kitchen's website at springfieldsoupkitchen.org.

“Life goes on but people need to eat,” Stegner said.

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