![\"JBJ](\"http:\/\/wordpress.jonbonjovisoulfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/imported\/editorial-photos\/1424809537.8439.spoon1020.jpg\" "\\"JBJ")
\n\u201cUnion Beach, like so many other hard-hit communities in our area, is still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy,\u201d said Jon Bon Jovi<\/b>. \u201cWe recognize that by supporting Spoon Full of Hope, we are not only providing families with a hot, nutritious meal in a warm, welcoming setting but also providing hope to those who are still rebuilding their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
JBJ Soul Foundation offered to help re-open Spoon Full of Hope after the program lost its funding last summer. The community restaurant follows the JBJ Soul Kitchen\u2019s model as there are no prices on the menu and you could be seated with someone you may not know. It is not a \u201cpay-what-you-can\u201d model, instead patrons can either pay a minimum donation or volunteer an hour of time to earn a dining certificate for a meal that will feed the volunteer and up to four family members. Since reopening, the restaurant has served an average of 70 meals per night, with 50% of meals served to patrons who volunteered as payment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe owe a heartfelt thank you to Jon, Dorothea and their amazing staff at JBJ Soul Kitchen for the guidance, opportunity, support and encouragement,\u201d said Gigi Liaguno-Dorr, project manager for Spoon Full of Hope. \u201cThis sponsorship is a true blessing that will empower, uplift and enable our community to continue to help each other pay it forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carl Williamson, pastor of Gateway Church of Christ said that he was excited for the opportunity to partner with Spoon Full of Hope to re-open the community restaurant. “Whether it\u2019s helping a person in-need or someone who is just willing to volunteer to help others, we believe that creating a family-like atmosphere is key to bringing our community together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spoon Full of Hope is the passion project of Liaguno-Dorr, who is the owner of JakeaBob\u2019s Bay. After Hurricane Sandy she relocated the storm-ravaged restaurant to a temporary location naming it JakeaBob\u2019s Off the Bay. She also devoted her time volunteering and distributing meals in Union Beach and later partnered with Gateway Church of Christ in 2013 to open the community kitchen.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had seen the need, witnessed the struggles and knew something had to be done. I wanted to create a warm and welcoming environment where neighbors could laugh, cry and encourage each other to keep on pressing forward,\u201d Liaguno-Dorr said. \u201cA helping hand, a hot meal, a friendly face, a conversation and hope\u2014these are life\u2019s most rewarding pleasures.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information, please visit Spoon Full of Hope Community Restaurant\u2019s website<\/a><\/b> and Facebook page<\/a><\/b>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Union Beach community restaurant reopens, provides much-needed boost to town as it continues to rebuild after Hurricane Sandy<\/i><\/p>\n RED BANK, N.J. (FEBRUARY 24, 2015)<\/b> \u2013 The JBJ Soul Kitchen Community Restaurant, a program of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, is pleased to announce its sponsorship of Spoon Full of Hope<\/b>, a non-profit community restaurant and outreach program of Gateway Church of Christ. The \u201cJBJ Soul Kitchen Sponsors Spoon Full of Hope\u201d pop-up location began serving meals in Union Beach at Union Hose Fire Co. #1 in January. Dinner is served on Wednesdays with seating at 5, 6, and 7 p.m.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":366,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[32,69,8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n