Manchester Township High School (MTHS) students continue to showcase time and time again their desire to give back to the community. This month, students in Ms. McKiernan's and Ms. Adams's classes volunteered to make two visits to the JBJ Soul Kitchen in Toms River, NJ where they lend a helping hand.
Joanne Gwin, the community coordinator for the JBJ Soul Kitchen Toms River location welcomes MTHS students to the facility with open arms. The JBJ Soul Kitchen is a non-profit Community Restaurant established by the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation. They serve meals to paying customers and those in need. Their goal is to provide a dining experience that fosters a sense of community and addresses issues of food insecurity.
When MTHS students arrive, Ms. Gwin gives them a nice tour of the facility, including the resource center and the food pantry. She also gives a short presentation about what JBJ Soul Kitchen is all about, including its history and its mission. Afterward, student volunteers help to tidy up the restaurant in preparation for the day, set up the dining area (sweep the floors, wipe down tables/chairs, set the tables, etc.), and support any additional tasks Ms. Gwin may need before they open for the day. In return, the students are served lunch, which includes a choice of appetizer (soup or salad), choice of entree, and dessert of the day.
Way to continue to live out our school district motto, Excellence by Example, in this way MTHS!