Church Gives Charity More Time to Relocate

The Someone Cares soup kitchen, which has been unsuccessful in finding a new home, has won a reprieve. First United Presbyterian Church in Costa Mesa has given the charity an extra 30 days at its current location.

The group had been given until April 1 to move its operation out of the church on 19th Street, where it has been dishing out lunches to the poor and homeless for the last four years.

Church officials said they had received a number of complaints from nearby businesses about the crowds the charity has drawn.

Merle Hatleberg, founder of Someone Cares, said she has contacted other churches in the area, but so far nobody has been willing to house the soup kitchen, which serves from 250 to 300 lunches every day.

“I don’t know what to say about the prospects at this point,” said Art Rorden, a soup kitchen volunteer. Rorden said he is hopeful that a solution can be found before the new moving date of May 1.