Monthly Archives: June 2015

June 23 2015

JBJ Soul Kitchen Voted Best Celebrity-Owned Restaurant in 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Award Contest Sponsored by USA TODAY

After 4 weeks of voting, the contest closed on Monday, June 8^th and the winners were announced that Friday. Chosen by a panel of relevant experts which include a combination of editors from USA TODAY; editors from 10Best.com; relevant expert contributors; and sources for both these media and other Gannett properties, JBJ Soul Kitchen was the only non-profit community restaurant in the field of 20 nominees.

“On behalf of everyone at the JBJ Soul Kitchen I want to extend my thanks to all those who voted. To be the only non-profit recognized and to come out on top is truly an honor” said Jon Bon Jovi. “For our hard working staff and volunteers to be recognized in this way makes this moment even sweeter. We appreciate the support and hope that the mission of Soul Kitchen will encourage others to do something in their community to offer a hand up to those that need it.”

As winners by a huge margin, JBJ Soul Kitchen was proud to receive so many votes from its supporters as their unique model has them serving more than just a meal to their diners. Diners are asked to pay a minimum donation for their meal and those that cannot are able to volunteer in exchange for a nutritious 3-course meal. One hour of volunteering earns the diner a gift certificate for themselves and up to 4 family members. If you can pay more than the suggested donation you can do so knowing that you are Paying It Forward by covering the cost of the meals for those who volunteered as payment.

The nomination panel for each award category is displayed on its associated contest page. All voting is digital and the 10Best Readers’ Choice Award contest is accessible on the 10Best.com website. Rules allow the public the right to vote online for one nominee per category, per day. Click here to see the complete voting results.

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June 11 2015

Jon Bon Jovi and Labor Leaders from Across New York State Join Fight for Fair Pay Campaign

Story by Governor Cuomo’s Press Office: New York, NY – In May, Governor Cuomo instructed the State Department of Labor to launch a Wage Board to investigate and make recommendations on an increase in the minimum wage in the fast food industry. The Wage Board is expected to make recommendations for a possible increase by July; those recommendations do not require legislative approval in order to become enacted.

Jon Bon Jovi said, “Raising the wage is about fairness and giving hardworking New Yorkers more than a shot at making ends meet. In 2009, we wrote the song ‘Work For The Working Man’ to give a voice to the struggling American worker – and it’s no coincidence that Governor Cuomo uses it frequently at events. He is making sure that New York leads the nation to fight for fair pay and provide better opportunity for all. The Governor is a man that works for the working man in everything he does, and I thank him for his leadership to pay employees a living wage.”

The Governor and Jon Bon Jovi were joined at today’s rally, held at the headquarters of the Hotel and Motel Trades Council, by labor leaders from across the state.

Under New York State law, a Wage Board can suggest changes to the minimum wage in a specific industry or job classification if it finds that wages are insufficient to provide for the life and health of workers within that industry or classification. Despite being a well-established and thriving multi-billion dollar industry, the fast food sector employs tens of thousands of minimum wage workers in New York State – the vast majority of which are women, primary breadwinners for their households, and recipients of welfare or other forms of public assistance.

To read the rest of the article, please visit www.governor.ny.gov

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June 1 2015

JBJ Soul Kitchen

Visit www.jbjsoulkitchen.org to learn more.

HOURS OF OPERATION:
The JBJ Soul Kitchen currently has seatings for Dinner from 5pm – 7pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and from 11:30am – 2pm for Brunch on Sundays.

ADDRESS:
207 Monmouth St.
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: (732) 842-0900

RESERVATIONS are not needed at JBJ Soul Kitchen. We welcome everyone at our table and will seat guests on a first come, first serve basis.

In October 2011, the Foundation expanded by opening the JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank, NJ to address issues of food insecurity, and has since served over 37,000 meals. Most recently Soul Kitchen reached the goal of 51% of the diners paying and 49% in-need. The community kitchen serves nutritious, culinary dishes in a restaurant atmosphere where diners contribute either volunteer hours or a minimum donation for their meals. The JBJ Soul Kitchen runs the Employment and Empowerment Team (EET) Program which connects a team of professionals with qualified volunteers to aid with resume writing, interview skills, job coaching, financial counseling and legal advice.

To read the original press release from the JBJ Soul Kitchen Grand Opening on October 19, 2011 please click here.

To watch the Live Stream from our JBJ Soul Kitchen Press Conference, please visit the Video section of our website.

JBJ Soul Kitchen on the Today Show (air date: 10/21/2011).