How the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen got started...

Merle Hatleberg founded the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen in 1986 with a vision, $600 and a soup pot. Before retiring as the Orange County seniors program director in Costa Mesa she had numerous people coming to the door at her work place who were hungry but did not qualify as seniors for feeding. Many of these "people" were school-aged children and the working poor. She was usually able to slip them some food, but realized there was an unmet need that was deeply troubling to her.

Drawing on her own meager funds, she bought a large pot and made her first pot of soup on June 15, 1986. That first day, Merle served about 30 people and the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen was born. From 1986 until 1997, the Soup Kitchen served its meals setting up in local churches or at the Rea Community Center in Costa Mesa. In 1997, with the help of many local business fundraisers, Merle was able to purchase a building at 720 W. 19th Street (the current home today). 

Someone Cares has grown to be the largest Soup Kitchen in Orange County serving more than 400 homeless and hungry people a day a hot, nutritious meal seven days a week. Someone Cares is not only a Soup Kitchen but also has a tutoring program for 45 at risk children each day with a staff of three full time teachers. On Tuesdays, Someone Cares guests are provided with toiletry items, socks and clothing.

Unfortunately Merle passed away in 1997 but her vision shines even brighter today twenty five years later. Even though in her last years she was nearly deaf, confined to a wheel chair and battled with breast cancer she still made it to the Soup Kitchen daily to feed the less fortunate and provided much need love. 

Merle's belief was simple... she believed that no one should go to bed hungry, on the street or otherwise!

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