Toms River, NJ — On Wednesday, January 28, the Ocean County Library Commission held a meeting to discuss the JBJ Soul Kitchen Pop-Up located inside the Ocean County Library in downtown Toms River. Following this discussion and after strong advocacy from library staff, community partners, and local residents, the Ocean County Library Commissioners approved an extension of the Pop-Up through April 30, aligning with the remainder of the Code Blue season.
The JBJ Soul Kitchen Pop-Up was established at the invitation of the Ocean County Library to expand JBJ Soul Kitchen’s presence into another area of the Toms River community, where the unhoused population in the downtown area has continued to grow. The timing of the Pop-Up closely aligned with Code Blue season, a period from November through March when freezing temperatures create life-threatening conditions for individuals without shelter. Operating under the same model as all JBJ Soul Kitchen locations, the Pop-Up follows a unique Pay It Forward approach, not a pay-what-you-want or soup kitchen concept. If you are unable to pay, we invite you into our restaurant to enjoy a warm meal and learn about volunteering opportunities at JBJ Soul Kitchen. If you can donate, we ask that you make a suggested donation and also Pay it Forward.
Over the past year, the Pop-Up served more than 13,500 meals, with 78% of those meals going to guests in need.
“From the very beginning, this Pop-Up was about responding to a real and growing need in downtown Toms River,” said Assistant General Manager, Rob Wood. “The library staff, our partners, and community members showed up and advocated for our guests. This extension is a direct result of that collective effort, and we are incredibly grateful.”
Supporting roughly 40 long-term unhoused individuals, the JBJ Soul Kitchen Pop-Up provides consistent, focused care made possible through the ongoing support of dedicated community partners who engage with guests during operating hours. Through these collaborations, the Pop-Up has distributed more than 1,275 hygiene kits and facilitated 210 referrals to service providers, resulting in 11 successful housing placements and 9 individuals securing employment.
The JBJ Soul Kitchen Pop-Up would like to thank the Ocean County Commissioners and the Library Commission for listening to the community and approving the extension, allowing us to continue serving during this critical time. The need in our community continues to grow, and JBJ Soul Kitchen remains fully committed to ensuring as many neighbors as possible are fed and connected to essential resources.
“I want to thank the community of downtown Toms River for embracing our Soul Kitchen model.” said Dorothea Bongiovi, Founder of JBJ Soul Kitchen. “The outpouring of encouragement and support has been incredibly humbling. I am also grateful for the opportunity to work with the so many dedicated non-profits. Your commitment and tenacity coupled with compassion, are an inspiration. Together, we focused on building meaningful, lasting solutions rather than temporary fixes. And if, at the end of the day, we were able to treat our neighbors with a little more kindness, dignity, and respect, that in itself is powerful.”
Community members are invited to visit the Pop-Up. Next time you’re deciding where to grab lunch, consider JBJ Soul Kitchen, a place where you can enjoy a delicious meal while making an impact in your community.
For more information about JBJ Soul Kitchen and ways to support its mission, visit jbjsoulkitchen.org.
JBJ Soul Kitchen Pop-Up: Located inside Ocean County Library – 101 Washington St, Toms River, NJ 08753
Hours of Operation: Tuesday-Friday | 10AM-2PM
