Soul Kitchen

Making a Difference.... One SOUL At A Time!

Jon Bon Jovi is eliminating hunger. building relationships. celebrating communities.

Hope is delicious. It truly is. But it’s not just a saying – it’s the motto of a restaurant: Soul Kitchen. Their manifesto? “All are welcome at our table.”

A meal at Soul Kitchen, a non-profit community run by the Jon Bon Jovi Soul foundation, is a truly unique experience. Not only do volunteers run this restaurant, alongside the kitchen staff, but also the menu has no prices. You pay a minimum donation of $10 per meal, or you give more if you want to help others. For those unable to pay, “an hour of volunteering pays for your meal.” This restaurant truly seeks to serve those with economic difficulty.

And like a proper restaurant should, they don’t skimp on the meals. According to their website, “Soul Kitchen serves a 3-course meal based on American Regional cuisine, starting with your choice of salad or soup, followed by a choice of a fish dish, a meat dish or a vegetarian selection. The meal is finished with a fresh baked dessert. All of the dishes are made with fresh, local (and when possible) organic ingredients.” Those searching for a hot, plentiful meal will definitely find one here.

But Soul Kitchen isn’t just about eating food – it’s a community restaurant! “A place where individuals or families can come to eat a hot, nutritious meal in a warm, welcoming setting and meet their neighbors.” Although food, shelter, and water are the three basic necessities, Soul Kitchen’s three-pronged goal is pretty important too: “eliminating hunger, building relationships, and celebrating communities.”

Volunteers get just as much out of the restaurant as the diners. “Those who volunteer are guided by Soul Kitchen staff through their tasks. Volunteering at Soul Kitchen can lead to qualifying for job training.” And for those still skeptical of the change this restaurant can create, they’ve provided a section called “Kitchen Stories” full of peoples’ experiences there, including a recent trip by the Girl Scout Troop 770 from Andover, New Jersey to volunteer.

The Soul Kitchen is just a small part of a bigger organization: the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, whose mission statement reads, “Through the creation of programs and partner ships targeted at breaking the cycle of poverty and homelessness, the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation exists to combat issues that force families and individuals into economic despair." Rather than giving a handout, they give a hand up, addressing the root of the problem and giving people new chances.

Okay. But what specifically will they do to address the problem? It’s quite simple. “It is the organization's goal to recognize and maximize the human potential in those affected by poverty and homelessness by offering assistance in establishing programs that provide food and affordable housing while supporting social services and job training programs.” By tackling poverty through all available means and facets, they’ve really got all the bases covered! www.jbjsoulkitchen.org