Rumors about the demise of the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen are greatly exaggerated.
“We have no intention of going anywhere,” soup kitchen director Lou Sartor said in a phone interview Wednesday.
This is a welcome statement for those concerned that soup kitchens will follow the lead of Spartanburg Opportunity Center and Haven Family Shelter. The two homeless organizations permanently ceased operations last year and last month, respectively.
But it's also an unusual commentary on the power of rumors, which Sater says have gotten so out of hand that she can't keep up her day job.
“There were days I couldn’t even do the paperwork,” she said. “People from all over the community have been calling us about this.”
For most of this month, she said, the soup kitchen received three or four calls a day from people concerned about the shelter closing.
Sater said he doesn't know exactly where the rumors came from, but they started swirling shortly after construction began on the city's new minor league baseball stadium over the winter, and even more so once The Haven closed. He said it has gained momentum.
Rumors of the soup kitchen's closure ended up garnering multiple media attention, which Sater said she was grateful for.
“I’m really happy that the media has covered it,” she said. “[Our guests] Please know that all is well and the doors will continue to open. ”
Sartor said he is happy to be back at work preparing for the upcoming weekend. She said her soup kitchen has prepared 300 Easter baskets for children and is preparing Easter meals.
