Author Archives: Heather Goldfarb

< BACK

 September 24 2024 

9th Annual Chili Cook-Off to Celebrate First Responders and Support Food Insecurity

TOMS RIVER, NJ – On Saturday, October 12, 2024, JBJ Soul Kitchen Toms River hosted their 9th Annual Chili Cook-Off, a tribute to the dedicated service of first responders across New Jersey. This event successfully brought the community together to celebrate first responders while supporting JBJ Soul Kitchen’s mission of addressing food insecurity.

Our 9th Annual Chili Cook-Off was our biggest yet, and we’re grateful to everyone who joined us! This year’s event featured delicious chili, enthusiastic competitors, and a supportive community, making for a fantastic day.

A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Vydia, for their continued support of JBJ Soul Kitchen. Their generosity helps us in our mission to fight food insecurity during a time when we need help the most. As of the end of September, JBJ Soul Kitchen Toms River has served 72% of our meals to guests who were unable to pay and volunteered at the restaurant for their meal.

Thank you to all first responder participants who joined us for the 9th Annual Chili Cook-Off. Your continued commitment to keeping our community safe is truly appreciated, and we’re honored to have you as part of this event.

All 13 First Responder Participants:

  • Belleville Fire Department
  • Elizabeth Fire Department
  • Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
  • Lanoka Harbor EMS
  • Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office
  • New Jersey State Police NCO Association
  • Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office
  • Ocean County Sheriff’s PBA Local 379
  • Pine Beach Police Department
  • Rutgers University Police Department
  • Toms River Fire Company #1
  • Toms River PBA 137
  • Union Beach Police Department

Congratulations to our winners:
1st Place: Rutgers University Police Department
2nd Place: Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
3rd Place: Union Beach Police Department
Best Dressed: Toms River PBA 137
Best Table: Rutgers University Police Department

Thanks to all our sponsors for making this event possible:

  • Ultimate Chili Sponsor: Arden Group
  • Smokin’ Hot Sponsor: Steel Horse
  • Hot Zone 50/50 Sponsor: D. Ryan Landscapes
  • Chili Champion Sponsor: Caroline Rafferty Interiors, LLC
  • Guitar Raffle Sponsor: Honeygrow
  • Top Chef Award Sponsor: Monmouth Medical Center
  • Cooling Station Sponsor: Carlin Family
  • Cup of Joe Station Sponsor: Brandywine Gables
  • Table Sponsor: Mehul Choksi – Salaried
  • Chair Sponsor: Yeehoo Press
  • Chili Sponsor: PernaFrederick
    Donation Sponsors:
  • Farros
  • Soldier On
  • Mr. Happy Party Rentals

We are thrilled with the turnout and support from our community, and we can’t wait to see everyone at our next event! Stay tuned for more updates from JBJ Soul Kitchen as we continue our mission to provide nutritious meals to those facing food insecurity.

< BACK

 August 27 2024 

Chance For Change

On August 26, 2024, at the Red Bank Train Station, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, in collaboration with NJ TRANSIT, Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey (CSPNJ), and Volunteers of America Delaware Valley (VOADV), launched the Chance for Change program. This initiative offers a new, secure way for NJ TRANSIT customers to make a real difference in the lives of those struggling with homelessness, mental health challenges, and substance use disorders.

One compelling example is Lasheema Edwards, who, while pursuing her Ph.D. in psychology at Grand Canyon University, ended up homeless in Penn Station due to untreated mental illness. Her story underscores the diverse and often complex challenges faced by individuals in need.

To support homeless assistance programs, NJ TRANSIT has implemented QR codes at its facilities, offering commuters an easy way to donate. This initiative aims to shift contributions away from panhandlers and towards established social service organizations specializing in outreach, healthcare, and housing. As NJ Transit Police Department Chief Christopher Trujillo noted, giving directly to individuals can sometimes unintentionally support harmful behaviors. The Chance for Change program ensures that donations go to trusted partners who are making a real difference.

The Chance for Change platform is available online and through QR codes displayed at NJ TRANSIT facilities, on digital screens, social media, and the NJ TRANSIT mobile app. This program guarantees that every donation directly benefits those in need, providing access to food, mental health services, and pathways to stable housing.

With Chance for Change, your generosity becomes a lifeline for many, making a lasting impact on our community. To learn more about this program and how it supports those in need, click here to read the full press release.

To contribute to the Chance for Change program, please click here to make a donation.

< BACK

 July 8 2024 

Donate to Support JBJSF and Enter for a Chance to Join Bon Jovi for a Private Performance

By supporting the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation with your donation, you not only contribute to ending hunger, poverty, and homelessness but also stand a chance to win an unforgettable experience. The contest closes on July 9th!

  • Round trip travel to Boston, MA, and 2-night hotel accommodations for two (2) on Cape Cod
  • Photo opportunity with Bon Jovi
  • Two (2) passes to the exclusive Audacy Beach House event on Cape Cod to see Bon Jovi perform on Friday, July 19, 2024
  • Bon Jovi-signed guitar
  • Gift card for car rental or car service

Your donation supports our mission to create positive change in communities across the country. Join us in making a difference today!

Click here to enter contest.

 

< BACK

  

Summer Merchandise

Exciting news! Our limited edition Summer Collection is here, featuring Retro Tanks and T-Shirts! Available now on our website, each purchase supports the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, dedicated to breaking the cycle of hunger, poverty, and homelessness since 2006.

“No one person can do this work alone. The mission of ending homelessness and ensuring that everyone has a safe place to live is not just the work of the government, nor is it the sole responsibility of the private sector. It takes everyone—what I like to call the Power of We.” – Jon Bon Jovi

By developing partnerships, creating innovative programs, and providing essential grant funding, the Foundation helps communities thrive. All proceeds from this collection go directly to the JBJ Soul Foundation, helping to fund their vital initiatives.

Check out our new styles at bit.ly/SFRetroMerch and wear your shirt with pride as we join together in the fight against hunger, poverty, and homelessness.

Thank you for your support!

< BACK

 June 11 2024 

JBJ Soul Foundation and New England Patriots Foundation Unite for Veterans: Groundbreaking Ceremony in Tewksbury, MA

November 11, 2022 – It was announced that the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation has partnered with the New England Patriots Foundation, in a joint match grant in support of the build for Soldier On’s Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community, located in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. Soldier On is dedicated to providing and coordinating an extensive continuum of housing and support services for veterans who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.

SOLDIER ON HOLD GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR PERMANENT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FOR AT-RISK AND HOMELESS VETERANS

TEWKSBURY, MA (July 13, 2023) – Elected officials, community partners, and supporters gathered in the Town Common to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Gordon H. Mansfield Veteran Community.

TEWKSBURY, MA (June 2024) Soldier On is beginning to accept applications for apartments at the Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community. Throughout the summer, Soldier On will be scheduling informational and application sessions to provide more details and assist applicants in the process.

TEWKSBURY, MA (December 2024) We are projected to start moving veterans into their new homes at the Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community by December 2024.

Soldier On, based in Pittsfield, MA, is dedicated to providing and coordinating an extensive continuum of housing and support services for veterans who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. The project, the Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community, will be the organization’s eighth permanent housing facility for veterans since it was founded in 1994.

The community is named for the late Gordon H. Mansfield, a highly decorated Vietnam War veteran who served as Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, as well as Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equality Opportunity at the Department of Housing & Urban Development. During his military service, Mansfield earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the Bronze Star, three Purple Hearts, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Presidential Unit Citation.

Soldier On became the development lead for this project at the invitation of Tewksbury Home Build, a local housing nonprofit that gained control of the site through a town-supported process of creating affordable housing. The development is located at 1660 Main Street, adjacent to Heatherwood Gracious Retirement Living. The new four-story,18,565 sq. ft. building will provide 21 units of affordable permanent supportive housing for veterans who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. All units will be fully furnished and include internet, cable, utilities and one meal per day. The facility will have a “Let’s Talk Interactive” telehealth kiosk and transportation provided to bring residents to appointments. Each veteran will have a case manager to ensure they receive the wrap around services they need.

About Soldier On
Soldier On is a private, nonprofit organization committed to ending veteran homelessness. Soldier On was organized in 1994 to provide a continuum of programs to ensure that homeless veterans and their families have access to immediate and long-term housing with an array of support services delivered directly to them where they live. The ultimate goal is to provide formerly homeless and at-risk veterans with permanent, supportive, sustainable housing. For more information, visit www.wesoldieron.org.

About The New England Patriots Foundation
Robert Kraft established the New England Patriots Foundation in 1994 as a way to give back to the communities the Patriots call home. The mission of the foundation is to aid individuals and families that are often marginalized in today’s society. Through the implementation of year-round programming and support of philanthropic agencies, the foundation is building stronger communities throughout New England. For more information about the New England Patriots Foundation, visit www.patriots.com/community.