Above: Cliff Gray, of Gateway Church of Christ, prepares meals to be served at the pop-up Spoon Full of Hope kitchen. Below: JBJ Soul Kitchen’s Kathy Dayback, Lou Morreale, general manager and executive chef, and Sharen Sacchi organize dinner orders at the kitchen held at the Union Hose Fire Co. No. 1 in Union Beach on Jan. 14 PHOTOS BY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ERIC SUCAR Community kitchen Spoon Full of Hope has opened its doors for dinner, serving meals for the first time since shortly after superstorm Sandy in 2012.
The popup community kitchen — a joint venture of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation and Gateway Church of Christ — celebrated its soft opening on Jan. 14 by providing meals to a small group at the Union Hose Fire Co. No. 1, located at 1224 Florence Ave. in Union Beach.
“This is the first time they are hosting it at this firehouse,” said firefighter George Calmon.
“I am glad because … I am a fireman here in town and we are here to help the community in another way now, you know, with everyone in need. I know a lot of people still need things, and this is a good cause.”
Spoon Full of Hope will be open every Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m.
According to a Facebook post by local restaurateur Gigi Liaguno Dorr, who began Spoon Full of Hope in the wake of the superstorm, the community kitchen will follow the same model as the Jon Bon Jovi (JBJ) Soul Kitchen, Red Bank, where there are no prices on the menu. Customers can pay the minimum donation of $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12 years old, or can volunteer an hour of their time and earn a dining certificate that will feed the volunteer and up to four family members.
Diners at the soft opening praised the kitchen and welcomed its return. “It was a big deal for me. I had attended last year when this was hosted in Jakeabob’s. This is more convenient for me now,” one Union Beach resident said.
Another pair of attendees, a woman and her sister from out of town, said they are glad the kitchen is back in town for residents who are still struggling to recover.
“I think this is a positive thing for the community. Anything that would help the town after the storm, right? I know that some of the areas around here are still bad in town, and it is great that this will bring extra recognition to the town.”
Mayor Paul Smith said recovery from the storm is going strong in the borough, and the addition of the Spoon Full of Hope kitchen is a major plus.
“This is great, especially for our residents. Anything that helps residents is a good thing,” he said.
“They’re serving three times per night on Wednesdays and anybody can show up. The food is good.”