No Release from Current Lease

The Souderton Shopping Center where we have operated for the past 50 years is owned by Mosaic Mennonite Conference (the “Conference”).  The Conference is the successor to the merger of the former Franconia Mennonite Conference and Eastern District Conference.  As a Conference-related Ministry, Care & Share has rented our space here in Souderton from the Conference under lease agreements.  We are currently in a five-year lease with the Conference.  

As a conference-related ministry, we have benefited over the years from the work of Margaret Zook, who helmed the relationships between the Conference and conference ministries for many years.  She was a valuable resource for Care & Share, opening connections and doors for us.  She has recently retired from the Conference.  We wish her well in her retirement and thank her for her work with us.  Her position has not been filled, and we await the announcement of her replacement.

Care & Share’s Board of Directors has been in discussion with the Conference for well over a year concerning the difficulties we experience in effectively and efficiently operating within the Souderton Shopping Center.  This includes the inefficiencies caused by the separated storefronts, lack of loading docks, and aging infrastructure.  The Conference was aware that we were exploring options.

In connection with our upcoming move to Harleysville, our Board officially notified the Conference that we would be leaving the Souderton Shopping Center by the end of the summer.  As our lease with the Conference runs through February 2028, Care & Share respectfully requested release from the rental early.  We recently received the Conference’s response to our proposal, and it was to deny our request.  The rents and related costs remaining after we vacate the property are approximately $1.6 million.  The Board is processing our plan surrounding this continuing cost.