Jon Bon Jovi Opens Another Charity Restaurant In New Jersey For Students In Need Of Meals

Jan 23, 2020 by apost team

Legendary rock star Jon Bon Jovi has been quietly running two restaurants in New Jersey which provide less fortunate individuals with three-course meals at no cost. The first Soul Kitchen opened its doors in 2011 and they both have since served over 100,000 meals. However, now the rocker has opened a third restaurant geared towards serving students at Rutgers University-Newark to make sure they do not go hungry. 

Soul Kitchen is a project of the JBL Soul foundation, and is mainly funded by donations. According to its website, Soul Kitchen doesn’t feature prices on its menu; instead, diners are encouraged to chip in by donating $20 per meal if they are able to, or volunteer in the kitchen if they aren’t.  The website claims that 54% of the meals served were covered by donations, while the rest was earned through volunteering.

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Jon Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea help run the restaurants and their most recent opening aims to tackle an issue facing many college students. "Recognizing that food insecurity is a critical issue facing many college students, and one that hits home right here at Rutgers, when Gourmet Dining came to us over a year ago with the idea to open a Soul Kitchen, we jumped at the chance to make an impact," Dorothea said to NBC New York. 

JBJ Soul Kitchen says one in three students attending college struggle with having consistent meals. At Rutgers University – Newark, more than 50 percent of students have outstanding financial need. Dorothea told the news station, "Students have enough to worry about. Worrying about where their next meal will come from should not be on the list." 

The first Soul Kitchen made its debut in 2011 in the Red Bank area, New Jersey.  The 57-year-old singer has always been vocal about his love for his home state, even naming his fourth album after it. The second restaurant opened in 2016 in the Toms River area which endured much damage from Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

“Our mission has always been to affect positive change and address the issues of hunger and homelessness,” Bon Jovi said in a statement obtained by Billboard. “There are no prices on our menu. So if you are in need, you participate. And that means bussing the table, washing a dish, working in our gardens,” he added.

Were you aware of the Soul Kitchens? Do you know of any similar projects in your community? Let us know in the comments - and make sure you pass this along to your friends and family!