Jersey Shore Restaurants Served Hot Meals To Hungry In Pandemic

JERSEY SHORE — Last week, Patch wrote about how a 9-year-old Monmouth County girl broke down crying in her Zoom class — because she was hungry and didn't have enough food at home — in a story that conveyed just how painful the need is for those who are suffering in the pandemic.

Now, the same food bank that came to her aid back in December, Fulfill, is sharing more stories about local Jersey Shore restaurants that stepped up to feed the hungry in this time of crisis.

It all started back in March, when the pandemic and lockdowns first began, recalled Kim Guadagno, the former Republican lieutenant governor of New Jersey. Guadagno now runs Fulfill, the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean counties.

It was in mid-March when a Fulfill employee walked into her office, in tears, and said the Lacey Township Soup Kitchen was in desperate need, as suppliers had fallen through.

"I called up Tim McLoone (a well-known Jersey Shore restaurant operator) and said I'll pay you five bucks a meal if you feed these people in Lacey," said Guadagno. "He said sure, right away. And that's how it started. He had the staff to pay; he had the extra food that was going to waste otherwise."

This was at a time when all of New Jersey's restaurants were forced to temporarily close, and many people suddenly and without warning lost their jobs. The need for donated food was higher than she'd ever seen, Guadagno recalled. Not only were thousands of people abruptly out of work, there were massive disruptions in the supply chain, as any New Jersey resident who searched for toilet paper can recall.

"The supply chain got all messed up, for lack of a better word," explained Guadagno. "There was a 445 percent increase in cost to get food supplies at that time. For example, a tractor trailer full of mixed peas, let's say, cost $22,000 to fill and deliver in 2019. In 2020, that went up to $65,000. It became impossible to find things like shelf-stable milk anywhere in the United States."

There were hungry people. There were Shore restaurants that wanted to help. Guadagno said it just made sense to match the two together.

"People struggled more than I've ever seen," throughout COVID, she said.

As the pandemic wore on, more Jersey Shore restaurants signed on. Fulfill would pay the restaurants a stipend, usually $5 to $7 per meal, to cook and prepare hot meals. Those meals would be packaged and then distributed to soup kitchens, homeless shelters and other food distribution points up and down the northern Jersey Shore. The restaurants were eager to help, as this was all happening at a time when Gov. Murphy at first only allowed outdoor dining, and then 25 percent indoors.

All of McLoone's restaurants participated; he owns C.J. McLoone's in Tinton Falls and Robinson Ale House in Red Bank, plus Pier House in Long Branch. Turning Point restaurant chain (there's one in Little Silver) was an early partner, as was the Fahey family, who own Edgar's Pub (now Reef & Barrel) in Manasquan and Cross & Orange in Asbury Park. JR's in Red Bank made trays of food for the Boys and Girls Club.

Murphy's Tavern in Rumson participated, as did The Whitechaple Projects (temporarily closed) in Long Branch, Mogo (Korean fusion tacos) in Asbury Park and Falco's Catering of Ocean Township.

"Five dollars a meal is not going to be enough to keep restaurants in business," said Guadagno. "But at least it was going to keep the lights on and allow them to make rent or mortgage payments and keep the bank happy. Restaurants got to stay in business during COVID and those who needed it got hot meals, instead of a box of cold spaghetti."

Throughout 2020, Guadagno estimates 30-40 New Jersey restaurants signed on and made a total of 300,000 meals-to-go.

According to Guadango, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority is looking into launching something similar and will be modeled after what Fulfill did.

"The meals weren't fancy — things like rice and chicken and fresh vegetables," she said. "We figured if a restaurant could make 1,000 meals a week it was enough to keep the cook employed and keep the lights on."

This story is part of Patch's Headlining Hope series, which profiles local nonprofits and charitable organizations in need of volunteers and resources. If you know of a local organization that should be profiled, contact carly.baldwin@patch.com.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimated that in 2020, more than 50 million Americans would not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.

Read also: Millions Made Hungry By Pandemic Could Include Your Neighbor