Interlachen soup kitchen halted from serving families

A local soup kitchen was forced to close its doors, and now dozens of people have to find another place to get a hot meal.

“We would see approximately 80-90 people feeding, our volunteers would right now be serving,” said David Yonts, who runs the Interlachen Soup Kitchen.

Yonts said he can no longer serve food.

“It makes me wonder where they are going to get it at, are they going to go hungry?” he said.

The city of Interlachen said the soup kitchen is as violation of current coding. “The current R1 zoning district specifically allows outright only single family dwelling," the city said.

“We come here every day,” said Jacqui Myers, who depends on the soup kitchen.

“I can’t afford to eat the way I’m supposed to, Type C diabetic,” she said.

Yonts said he served people for nearly eight years at a local church, but outgrew the space. In March, he moved his soup kitchen next to his home in a residential area, but some neighbors weren’t pleased.

“The values of properties are going to decline,” said Rock Sexton, who lives in the neighborhood.

He said he supports soup kitchens, but he does not want one near his home.

“They need to put it in an area that is zoned to have it,” Sexton said.

People will have to find another place to get food, at least until August 20, when the City Council will be making a decision about the future of the soup kitchen.

A letter from the city to the Interlachen Soup Kitchen reads:

Please be advised that during the July 10, 2018, Interlachen Town Council meeting the Town Council was advised by Town Attorney Donald E. Holmes that your current operation of a “soup kitchen” in the R1 zoning district is a violation of current zoning. You must cease and desist all operations at your location any and all activity related to or as a “soup kitchen.” The current R1 zoning district specifically allows outright only single family dwellings, however, has some allowances by Special Exception. The Town can’t guarantee or predict the outcome of any application for use of your residence as a “soup kitchen” as a Special Exception to the current zoning.

Cox Media Group