Bon Jovi opens hunger centre in shore town hit hard by Sandy

TOMS RIVER (New Jersey) — Jon Bon Jovi knows he can’t help society by curing cancer or splitting atoms. But he can use his celebrity to command the attention of millions of people, including some of the wealthiest and most powerful.

The Sayreville, New Jersey-born rocker and his wife, Dorothea Bongiovi, are joining with local charities and wealthy fellow philanthropists to tackle hunger and poverty in a shore town that was devastated by Superstorm Sandy.

He and his Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation held a grand opening Tuesday for the B.E.A.T. Center, which stands for Bringing Everyone All Together. The centre includes the second JBJ Soul Kitchen restaurant, where those in need can pay a minimum US$10 (S$13.70) donation or do volunteer work for their meals, and paying customers donate toward the cost of the volunteers’ food. The first one opened in Red Bank in 2011.

The center in Toms River is designed as a one-stop facility to help people apply for nutritional assistance benefits and health care, and get culinary-related job training.

The singer best known for rock anthems like Livin’ On A Prayer, You Give Love A Bad Name and Wanted Dead Or Alive said hunger is something he can actually do something about.

``We didn’t need scientists to find a cure,’’ he said. ``There are so many wonderful causes and so many passionate people that are addressing them. We have been inspired by so many of our in-need neighbouyrs who have come seeking help.’’

He and several others active with the center said one of its main goals is not just to feed the lines at food pantries but also to permanently shorten them.

``We serve people with dignity,’’ added his wife, Dorothea. ``You get great food and volunteer for the meal, and we ask our paying customers to pay it forward and pay for the volunteers’ meals. That’s part of our sustainability model.’’

Bon Jovi says many area residents are still recovering from Sandy and don’t have enough nutritious food to eat. But he says the need predated the storm in Ocean County, where one in five residents is low-income or lives below the poverty level of US$15,000 a year for a family of four.

``This is happening across our nation,’’ he said. ``When there’s 15 per cent of children going to be hungry at night in a nation like ours, that’s not an issue it takes a scientist to solve.’’

Toms River was one of the hardest-hit communities during Sandy, which struck Oct 29, 2012. The nearby Ortley Beach section was devastated, and many homes and businesses still have not been rebuilt as the fourth summer after the storm approaches.

Bon Jovi is partnering with the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, The Peoples Pantry and the David Tepper Charitable Foundation to provide US$5 million in services to needy families in the B.E.A.T. Center’s first year of operation.

The centre joins other charitable endeavours undertaken by Bon Jovi, including the construction of 440 units of affordable housing for homeless or low-income families and donations to numerous Sandy relief efforts. AP