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Natural Awakenings South Jersey

The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation

Nov 30, 2022 09:00AM ● By Nancy Seigle

Providing Housing and Shelter for the Community 

Since 2006, the Jon Bon Jovi (JBJ) Soul Foundation has worked to break the cycle of poverty, homelessness and hunger in communities across America. Through grant funding of local and national partner projects and creating sustainable programs, the JBJ Soul Foundation has helped provide funding for almost 1,000 units of affordable housing and shelter in 11 states and Washington, D.C., for thousands of individuals and families experiencing homelessness and financial instability including youth and veterans.  

On the early stages of its development, Jon Bon Jovi, board chairman of the JBJ Soul Foundation, says, “If we can bring back a street, we bring back a neighborhood, a neighborhood perhaps brings back a town, and in that case, it was Philadelphia. That began the journey in homelessness because I realized that it could affect anyone and everyone at any time.”  

The Foundation expanded its mission in 2011 to address issues of food insecurity and currently operates two JBJ Soul Kitchen community restaurants in Red Bank and Toms River, New Jersey, both serving approximately 60 percent in-need patrons this year. JBJ Soul Kitchen locations have also been recognized by Trip Advisor as 2022 Travelers’ Choice award winners. The organization recently celebrated the grand reopening of JBJ Soul Kitchen, located on the Rutgers University-Newark campus, in partnership with Gourmet Dining, the first on a college campus. Due to the rising cost of food and increase of food insecurity amongst college students, Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea made it their mission that no student be left hungry.  

“I wanted a restaurant where there were no barriers to eating a delicious restaurant-styled meal,” says Dorothea, founder and program director of JBJ Soul Kitchen. “It’s not a pay-what-you-want or pay-what-you-can model; we ask those who are unable to afford a donation to spend time with us, volunteer and help around the restaurant. The paying customers can then come with their family and eat the same three-course meal and pay-it-forward to offset the cost of those who cannot afford to pay for their own meal.”   

Consider joining them in their mission by giving the gift of giving this holiday season. Those that donate to the JBJ Soul Foundation are directly helping the community and neighbors that are in-need. Help brighten someone’s holiday and effect change … one “Soul” at a time.  

For more information, visit JBJSF.org or JBJSoulKitchen.org. 

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