Jon Bon Jovi's restaurant will offer free meals to furloughed government workers
As Donald Trump's partial shutdown of the U.S. government approaches the end of its first (and hopefully last) month, every little bit helps. Jon Bon Jovi is doing his part.
The '80s rocker -- he's had quite an accomplished career, but memories of Slippery When Wet will never fade -- owns and operates New Jersey's JBJ Soul Kitchen with his wife and business partner, Dorothea. The two have offered to treat any furloughed federal employees to a free lunch on Monday.
"Since founding the Soul Kitchen, we wanted to ensure that anyone struggling with food insecurity had a place to go," the pair said in a statement, via NBC Philadelphia. "This Monday, we will be open for lunch as a way to create a place of support and resources for furloughed federal workers, many of whom are our friends and neighbors."
The meals will be offered in partnership with the Murphy Family Foundation, a charitable organization founded by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy. Monday, January 21, marks Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
The statement went on to add that additional free meals for federal employees "will be determined by turnout, feedback and demand, and will be announced at a later date." Federal employees should bring proof of employment if they want to get in on this.
JBJ Soul Kitchen isn't your typical restaurant. Founded in 2011, the self-described "community restaurant" serves three-course meals paid for by a suggested $20 donation. According to its website, the restaurant will still serve those who can't afford the donation.
The partial U.S. government shutdown that began on Dec. 22 has left roughly 800,000 federal employees temporarily out of work or working without pay. It's the longest shutdown in U.S. history and the second of Trump's troubled tenure as president.
Topics Social Good Politics Celebrities
Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
