Dove of the Day - April 13, 2025

Featured on S4 Ep152: When Faith Meets Cancel Culture 

Jon Bon Jovi
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Jon Bon Jovi’s nonprofit restaurant, JBJ Soul Kitchen, has come under scrutiny from Daniel Rodrick, the mayor of Toms River, New Jersey. JBJ Soul Kitchen operates on a pay-it-forward model, offering meals to those experiencing food insecurity. Guests who cannot pay are encouraged to volunteer their time, and since its inception in 2011, the nonprofit has reportedly served over 200,000 meals.
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A temporary JBJ Soul Kitchen location opened in February at the Ocean County Library in Toms River. This pop-up is scheduled to close in May, but Mayor Rodrick has criticized its presence. He claims the restaurant has contributed to a rise in the local unhoused population and alleged that people are being brought into the town for services. He also expressed concern about safety and taxpayer resources being used, adding that he wanted the pop-up closed.

The JBJ Soul Foundation responded by reaffirming its commitment to addressing homelessness with long-term solutions and denying the mayor's claims of increased safety incidents. Officials from the county also stated that data does not support the allegations of incidents or people being "bused in" for the pop-up location. They emphasized that the pop-up is a brief initiative to support those in need.

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