The Meriden Soup Kitchen was founded in 1983 as a tax-exempt 501(c)3 corporation, and has been serving the residents of Meriden for the past 41 years. During that period, it has remained entirely volunteer-driven, with no paid staff.

It currently resides in its fourth home. Initially it operated at the Main Street Baptist Church, then the Salvation Army, then the Unitarian-Universalist Church, and now at the First Baptist Church of Meriden. During these years, countless volunteers have worked to provide nourishing meals to those in need.

Over this period, it has relied on the generosity of many foundations, religious organizations, corporate entities, civic organizations, schools and individual donors, who have generously provided both monetary and in-kind assistance.