Bon Jovi Opened 2 ‘Soul Kitchen’ Restaurants That Help People In Need By Letting Them Eat Free Of Charge

We all know about Bon Jovi’s iconic hit songs. However, many may not know about his even greater performances offstage and outside the music industry. For one, he founded the Jon Bon Jovi (JBJ) Soul Foundation back in 2006. The foundation aims to help provide long-lasting solutions to hunger, homelessness and poverty. Among which is the opening of the JBJ Soul Kitchen, a non-profit community restaurant where “all are welcome” at their table.

Bon Jovi with Soul Kitchen Promotional Poster at Back — jbjsoulkitchen

Bon Jovi Volunteering at Soul Kitchen — jbjsoulkitchen

A Community Restaurant That Doesn’t Require Payment from Its Patrons

Soul Kitchen Patrons Enjoying Their Meals — jbjsoulkitchen

Bon Jovi Preparing Chili — jbjsoulkitchen

Indeed, by “all,” they mean everyone—people from all walks of life. In fact, their menus don’t even indicate the prices of their meals. They do encourage customers to make a suggested donation of $20 for their meal, as part of the restaurant’s “Pay It Forward” program. The donations will then be used to provide meals for those who are unable to donate. In turn, customers who can’t afford to make a donation can join the community and volunteer instead.

Bon Jovi with Friends from Tiffany and Co. and Gold Tinker Jewelry — jbjsoulkitchen

The community restaurant currently has two locations in New Jersey. This first one is in Red Bank which opened its doors in October 2011. Meanwhile, the other one is in Toms River which opened in 2016. If you’re planning to visit one soon, do note that both branches don’t accept nor require reservations. Patrons are seated and served on a first-come, first-served basis, although in-need diners are of course given priority.

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Bon Jovi and Soul Kitchen Chili Contest Participants — jbjsoulkitchen

The restaurant’s menu consists of a three-course meal based on American Regional cuisine. All dishes are farm-to-table meals, meaning they only use organic and locally-sourced ingredients straight from the restaurant’s garden. According to their website, the restaurant has already served 105,893 meals. 54% were paid with donations, while 46% were earned through volunteering.

Soul KItchen Creole Chicken with Fresh Baked Corn Bread — jbjsoulkitchen

Soul Kitchen Poached Cod in Collard Greens — jbjsoulkitchen

Earlier this year, the restaurant provided free meals to furloughed federal employees affected by the government shutdown. Meanwhile, in October, the restaurant also celebrated its eighth anniversary in service.

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