Author Archives: Heather Goldfarb

< BACK

July 28 2020

JBJ Soul Kitchen Offering Meals To Go

Patrons can order meals online for curbside pickup or dine outdoors while Paying It Forward to feed individuals and families in need

Red Bank, N.J. – July 28, 2020 – JBJ Soul Kitchen, a non-profit community restaurant, announced it is offering meals to go for curbside pickup at both its Red Bank and Toms River locations. Patrons can enjoy healthy, three-course meals at home while Paying It Forward to feed individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. Both restaurants are currently open for outdoor seating and offering a complimentary kid entrée with the purchase of one regular entrée.

“The emergence of COVID-19 has bolstered our commitment to helping individuals and families in need,” said Dorothea Bongiovi, Founder & Program Director. “Since we transitioned back to our Pay It Forward model last month, about 83% of our meals are being served to those struggling with food insecurity. We want to spread the word that those in need can still count on us for a delicious meal served with dignity. At the same time, those who wish to support our mission can stop by to enjoy a meal outside or order a meal online for curbside pickup. Together, we can do what we can to help our community during this challenging time.”

Unlike “pay what you” want community restaurant models, JBJ Soul Kitchen is a Pay It Forward community restaurant where dignity and respect are always on the menu. Paying guests donate a minimum of $20 for a three-course meal, including soup or salad, an entrée, and a dessert. When ordering diners also have the ability to donate extra meals for those in need.

Guests unable to pay are invited to enjoy a meal and learn how volunteering at the restaurant can support their individual and family needs—from access to available resources in the community through our partner network to tasty meals in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

For 13 weeks during the quarantine mandated by the New Jersey government, JBJ Soul Kitchen upheld its mission to help those struggling with food insecurity by providing grab-and-go meals to those in need. The restaurants served a combined total of 7,800 meals to individuals, families, community partners, and front-line workers. Since reopening, JBJ Soul Kitchen remains committed to the health and safety of its staff, volunteers, patrons, and community. To this end, JBJ Soul Kitchen established House Rules to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, following the State of New Jersey Department of Health, CDC, and local regulations.

“Thank you to our dedicated staff, patrons, donors, and community partners for helping sustain this effort during this challenging time,” added Lou Morreale, General Manager, JBJ Soul Kitchen.

JBJ Soul Kitchen Red Bank is open Wednesday – Saturday from 5 pm – 7 pm with pre-order pickup available between 6 pm – 7 pm. JBJ Soul Kitchen Toms River is open Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday from 5 pm – 7 pm with pre-order pickup available between 6 pm – 7 pm and on Wednesday and Thursday from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm with pre-order pickup between 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm.

Menus feature seasonal items leveraging locally-sourced and organic ingredients when possible from JBJ Soul Kitchen gardens. Vegetarian options, gluten-free, dairy-free substitutes are always available. Visit the JBJ Soul Kitchen website for more details and to order online.

Individuals interested in making a Pay It Forward contribution to the JBJ Soul Kitchen can visit: https://bit.ly/32EcLZg

< BACK

April 16 2020

JBJ Soul Foundation Supports Partner Organizations Stepping Up To Feed Philadelphians Experiencing Homelessness During Crisis

Step Up to the Plate is a city-wide initiative to feed and provide health services to individuals experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia during the COVID-19 pandemic. JBJ Soul Foundation is proud to support and partner with Step Up to the Plate by providing a $100,000 grant to help fund this cause.

“JBJ Soul Foundation remains committed to helping the homeless community in Philadelphia,” said Craig A. Spencer, Vice-Chairman, JBJ Soul Foundation. “Our partnership with Step Up to the Plate, along with many other companies and organizations in this great city, will provide in-need individuals and families access to basic necessities during this unprecedented time including food, medical care, personal hygiene stations and COVID-19 resources and support.”

If you would like to make a donation to Step Up to the Plate, click HERE

PHILADELPHIA – April 16, 2020 – There is a crisis of hunger in our city. The impact that COVID-19 is having on our most vulnerable neighbors, individuals experiencing homelessness, is seen in the ever-increasing numbers of people needing access to food and medical care throughout Philadelphia. It has become clear to the City of Philadelphia, and to many of the organizations serving this population, that a larger and more coordinated effort is necessary to address this growing need and continue providing food and services in a healthy and safe environment.

Step Up to the Plate, a collaborative effort of Broad Street Ministry, Project HOME, and Prevention Point Philadelphia, is a central part of the City’s efforts to address this challenge. These organizations are working closely with the Office of Homeless Services to secure two large outdoor sites, allowing meal services to continue while maintaining appropriate social distancing guidelines. These sites are the North Apron of City Hall (located near Project HOME’s Hub of Hope outdoor medical clinic), and an outdoor lot at the intersection of East Clearfield and Ruth Streets in Kensington, near Prevention Point Philadelphia.

Three local catering companies – Catering by Design, 12th Street Catering, and Herb Scott Catering – will provide meals at cost. By collaborating with catering companies, Step Up to the Plate allows its partners to turn their focus towards staffing, logistical, and care concerns for their guests. The current projection is to serve 1,000 takeaway packaged meals per day (each package containing lunch and dinner, for a total of 2,000 meals provided per day) and to be operational by the end of the week of April 13.

In addition, Wawa has agreed to donate 1,400 meals a week to St. Johns Hospice and Face to Face shelter partners, equating to a total of nearly 10,000 meals during the seven-week initiative.

“It is critically important for the nonprofit, government, philanthropic, and private sectors to be coming together at this moment to address the needs of our neighbors struggling with deep poverty, homelessness, and hunger,” said Mike Dahl, Executive Director of Broad Street Ministry. “The Step Up to the Plate campaign represents the very best of what we can accomplish as the City of Brotherly Love. Broad Street Ministry is proud and humbled to be standing shoulder to shoulder with all of our partners in this effort and we look forward to inviting many others to join us.”

“When a moment like this happens, it’s so important that we all come together to find a solution for those in need,” says Sister Mary Scullion, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Project HOME. “We’re honored to be working with Broad Street Ministry, Prevention Point, Mural Arts, and other partners to coordinate getting food and medical care, at this critical time, to our brothers and sisters on our city’s streets.”

“In this extraordinary time, Prevention Point Philadelphia is pleased to further extend its reach in the community of Kensington to help feed hundreds of people a day through the Step Up to the Plate initiative,” said Jose Benetiz, Executive Director of Prevention Point Philadelphia. “We are so grateful for the partnership of so many organizations and companies, along with the City of Philadelphia, to make an extraordinary difference in our community.”

At the City Hall site, the food distribution will be provided by Broad Street Ministry staff. In Kensington, food distribution will be provided by Prevention Point Philadelphia staff and volunteers. At both sites, COVID-19-related health care services and resources will be available for those experiencing homelessness. In Center City, Project HOME’s Hub of Hope staff will provide services. In Kensington, services will be provided by Prevention Point Philadelphia with assistance from Philadelphia FIGHT.

Mural Arts Philadelphia will provide beautifully designed vinyl Space Pads for the ground to encourage safe distancing during service, along with banners and other public signage. Each Space Pad has been designed by one of four different Mural Arts artists and combines beauty with helpful public health facts related to COVID-19. Over 700 14” x 14” outdoor vinyl decals were installed for just the Center City site. More will be added in Kensington.

Step Up to the Plate is a partnership of Broad Street Ministry, Prevention Point Philadelphia, Project HOME, and the City of Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services. Catering partners are Catering by Design, 12th Street Catering, Herb Scott Catering, and The Wawa Foundation. Additional partners are Mural Arts Philadelphia, Muslims Serve, and Center City District. Funding for Step Up to the Plate is provided by Connelly Foundation, The Daniel B. and Florence E. Green Foundation, Haas Charitable Trust, Hummingbird Foundation, Independence Foundation, JBJ Soul Foundation, Philadelphia Health Partnership, Philadelphia Foundation, the PHL COVID-19 Fund, and William Penn Foundation.

Broad Street Ministry is a broad-minded faith community with an aspiration to create a more just world through civic engagement. Project HOME empowers individuals to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness through affordable housing, employment, health care, and education. Prevention Point Philadelphia is a non-profit public health and social services organization that works to reduce the harms associated with drug use. By working together, in concert with City of Philadelphia leadership, these organizations believe they can provide a higher level of necessary service to our city’s most vulnerable citizens and increase the likelihood of effective social distancing. To get involved with Step Up to the Plate, reach out to kfritz@independencefoundation.org.

< BACK

March 16 2020

JBJ Soul Kitchen Responds to NJ State of Emergency

NJ State of Emergency: Important Information Regarding COVID-19

Monday, March 16, 2020: Effectively immediately, JBJ Soul Kitchen Red Bank & Toms River locations will be OPEN FOR TAKE-OUT for our IN-NEED COMMUNITY ONLY – see hours below. Due to food demand, the menu will be limited.

If you are struggling to feed yourself or your family, we are a resource for you.

We will be monitoring the food supply situation and assessing our operations on a daily basis. Please check our website and social media (Red Bank, Toms River) for updates (no phone calls please).

Thank you all for your continued support and patronage. Stay healthy and safe!

– JBJ Soul Kitchen Staff

Red Bank Hours:
Wednesday – Saturday: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Monday – Tuesday: Closed

Toms River Hours:
Tuesday, Friday & Saturday: 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday & Thursday: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Sunday & Monday: Closed

< BACK

January 22 2020

FIRST JBJ SOUL KITCHEN ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS OPENS AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY – NEWARK

Campus Foodservice Provider, Gourmet Dining, Introduces “Pay It Forward” Community Restaurant as Innovative Approach to Addressing Student Food Insecurity

*Pictured (L-R): Nancy Cantor, Chancellor, Rutgers University-Newark;*
*Phil Murphy, Governor, New Jersey; Tammy Murphy; First Lady of New Jersey;*
*Dorothea Bongiovi, Jon Bon Jovi; Michael Frungillo, President, Gourmet Dining*

Newark, N.J. – January 22, 2020 – It’s hard to believe, but one in three students attending a four-year college struggle with the issue of food insecurity. At Rutgers University – Newark (RU-N), where more than 50 percent of students have exceptional financial need, the campus community is taking an innovative approach to address the issue by opening the first JBJ Soul Kitchen on a college campus in partnership with the school’s food service provider, Gourmet Dining. The JBJ Soul Kitchen serves healthy, delicious meals to students, faculty and community members who have the ability to pay, in addition to students who are in need.

“Food insecurity is one of the most critical issues college students face today,” said Jon Bon Jovi, Board Chairman, JBJ Soul Foundation. “We applaud Gourmet Dining and Rutgers University-Newark who have made tackling this issue a priority so that students always have a place to go for a great-tasting, healthy meal. We couldn’t have found a better place to open our third JBJ Soul Kitchen location and truly believe that when students are supported with basic needs and backed by their community, they can and will go on to do amazing things.”

Rutgers University – Newark has long been at the forefront of addressing the issue of student food insecurity and has taken a comprehensive approach to open a food pantry, organize a care team and work with student organizations dedicated to fighting hunger on campus. Introducing the JBJ Soul Kitchen at RU-N provides even greater opportunities for the entire campus community to come together and educate and assist one another to solve this problem.

“Our new partnership with the JBJ Soul Foundation and Gourmet Dining to open JBJ Soul Kitchen—the first on a college campus—takes our collective action on food insecurity to a whole new level,” said Rutgers University – Newark Chancellor Nancy Cantor. “This is the kind of action that I think the late great Newark Rabbi Joachim Prinz had in mind when he spoke at the March on Washington just before Dr. King in 1963 and said: ‘Neighbor is not a geographic term. It is a moral concept. It means our collective responsibility for the preservation of human dignity and integrity.’ For us at Rutgers-Newark, that is what it means to be an anchor institution.”

At JBJ Soul Kitchen RU-N, students, faculty and community members are invited to dine and pay-it-forward by making a minimum donation of $12 or using a donated meal plan “swipe”. Students may also volunteer their time by participating in various activities around the restaurant or in other campus dining locations to cover the cost of their meal.

“What makes the JBJ Soul Kitchen model special is that it’s designed so that everyone can enjoy a healthy, delicious meal and dine with dignity – whether you’re hungry or hungry to make a difference,” added Dorothea Bongiovi, Founder, JBJ Soul Kitchen.

No matter the individual’s socioeconomic situation, everyone who dines at the JBJ Soul Kitchen will enjoy the same chef-created, three-course meal. Every week the menu changes with a variety of options for appetizers, main courses and desserts. Some of the menus will feature a Soul Spiced BBQ Pulled Beef, a Coffee and Soul Spiced Short Rib, and Maple Roasted Chicken. All meat served is certified Halal, Kosher is available upon request, and there are always vegan and gluten-free options, along with delicious desserts.

“As a campus dining service, everything we do is focused on meeting the ever-changing dining needs of our students and know that great meals are a part of their success. One day, after seeing a long line of students waiting to visit the food pantry, I knew we needed to do something more to help them focus on being students – and not worry about where their next meal is coming from,” said Michael Frungillo, President, Gourmet Dining. “Understanding there was a successful model and a great champion essentially in our own backyard in New Jersey, we soon approached Jon and Dorothea and the JBJ Soul Kitchen. We’re honored to carry their mission forward and know we have all the right ingredients to make a difference.”

Beginning on Thursday January 23, the JBJ Soul Kitchen RU-N will be open for lunch from 11:30am-1:30pm ET Monday-Friday. It is located on the second floor of the Paul Robeson Campus Center at 350 Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Blvd. in Newark, N.J.

Individuals interested in making a contribution to the JBJ Soul Kitchen can visit https://www.runewarkdining.com/jbjsoulkitchen/.

< BACK

November 15 2019

JBJ Soul Foundation Celebrates Groundbreaking of HABCORE Expansion Project In Red Bank

Red Bank, N.J., (November 15, 2019) – Today HABCORE broke ground on a 4-unit expansion project on River Street in Red Bank. Funds have been donated by generous community individuals as well as New Jersey Natural Gas, the Lydia Collins deForest Charitable Trust, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ National Housing Trust Fund, and the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation.

HABCORE is a nonprofit organization in Red Bank, NJ that provides permanent housing and supportive services to homeless veterans, families and individuals with special needs in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Its mission is to provide permanent housing and individualized support, helping homeless families, veterans, and individuals with special needs move through crisis to stability, giving them the opportunity to improve their lives.

This is the first time the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation has donated to permanent housing for the formerly homeless in Monmouth County. “The River Street project presented a unique opportunity for the Foundation to help realize our two-fold mission of ending the cycle of homelessness and hunger in the Red Bank community,” said Heather Goldfarb, Executive Director of JBJ Soul Foundation. “We are pleased to partner with HABCORE to provide affordable housing to those in need, while continuing our support in the community through JBJ Soul Kitchen and JBJ & PBC Hope & Comfort Warming Center, all within walking distance of one another.”

Housing in Monmouth and Ocean counties is scarce and unaffordable for many. In 1988 HABCORE was formed to house the homeless when three Red Bank men froze to death on the streets of Red Bank during a harsh winter. The agency was named HABCORE in the memory of those men whose initials began with H, A, and B. Over the past 31 years HABCORE has continued to meet the needs of the previously homeless in both congregate and independent living settings.

HABCORE now has 300 residents living across Monmouth and Ocean counties including 60 families with 100 children. Residents represent a formerly homeless population of very-low-income families, veterans, and individuals with special needs.

HABCORE’s goal is to grow continuously to meet the needs of the 665 estimated homeless in the Monmouth-Ocean region. “This generosity enables HABCORE to increase the number of affordable, supportive units in Red Bank by building onto the existing 100-year-old duplex which we’ve owned since 1992,” said Steve Heisman, Executive Director. “We have a distinguished track record for expanding services to meet the rising need for housing while continuously improving support to residents.”

As part of HABCORE’s Independent Living Program, the residents will receive supportive services, such as training in job acquisition skills and financial literacy.

Approved unanimously by the Red Bank Zoning Board of Adjustment, the project will make the first floor units wheel chair accessible with a motorized lift on the front of the property. A laundry room will be added in a breezeway connecting the older structure with the new addition, and a fire suppression system will be installed to serve both structures. All construction will be energy efficient.

Rendering of HABCORE’s River Street Project

Elected officials whose districts represent HABCORE’s service area praise its programs and the vital need it addresses:

“HABCORE is a true leader in our Monmouth County community,” said Senator Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch). “So many New Jersey families have been touched by their dedicated efforts, and this funding will allow HABCORE ore to continue to aid more households in need. Thank you to all of the staff, volunteers, and supporters who make HABcore’s mission possible.”

“When addressing homelessness, housing has to be the first part of any solution,” said Assemblywoman Joann Downey (D-Freehold), who chairs the Human Services Committee in the State Assembly. “We’re grateful to HABCORE for all of their efforts to support underserved families, and will continue to do all we can to make sure that they can continue this critical work.”

“Our communities are better off because of HABCORE’s contributions,” said Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling (D-Neptune). “This funding for their efforts in Red Bank is a clear statement that New Jersey will continue to prioritize the needs of our most vulnerable residents, and I look forward to seeing how HABCORE core will use this funding to serve local families.”