JBJ Soul Kitchen Opens Pop-Up Location in Downtown Toms River During Cold Weather

A new JBJ Soul Kitchen pop-up has begun serving meals from an old church building next to the Ocean County Library on Washington Street in Downtown Toms River. The location opens when winter hits the community hardest.

When temperatures drop to 32 degrees or below, triggering Code Blue alerts, the kitchen gets busy. People can grab hot meals Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For $12, diners get the full experience - starting with an appetizer, moving to a main course, and finishing with dessert and coffee. The kitchen makes sure to have choices for people with dietary restrictions, including gluten and dairy-free options.

Located near public transportation and support services, the spot is easy to reach for folks without cars. The building dates back to the 1850s, when it first served as a Presbyterian church.

"We need to stay open as long as Code Blue stays in effect," said Community Coordinator Danny Marvin to Jersey Shore Online.

The building has seen many changes over the years. Its steeple had to be taken down after becoming unsafe. Church services stopped in the early 1970s, and the place became a meeting hall. Until March 2020, it housed a Dunkin' Donuts.

Code Blue weather activates local support teams. Workers head out to check on vulnerable people, offering rides to warming centers and helping them access essential services.

Anyone can call 311 to help someone struggling in the cold. This works together with city staff who keep track of people living on the streets.

Marketing Manager Tessa Caruso mentions how this location helps people who can't make it to their Hooper Avenue spot. The kitchen also lets people volunteer in exchange for meals.

This historic building keeps finding new ways to help. From prayers to coffee to hot meals, it continues to provide shelter for those in need during the cold winter months.

Check out Jimmy Steal's page, our very own Toms River resident.