Jon Bon Jovi, restaurants offer free meals to unpaid US federal workers

By: Cody Cepeda - 6 years ago

Jon Bon Jovi and his band Bon Jovi joined music royalty on Saturday as they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Image: AFP/Don Emmert

Rock legend Jon Bon Jovi has joined the likes of restaurant owners across the United States who are offering free meals to unpaid federal workers in view of the government shutdown.

The shutdown continues to persist since it began in December 2018, affecting around 800,000 federal workers who missed their pay checks last Jan. 11. Some of the workers have turned to GoFundMe pages and restaurants offering free food when it comes to their rent, meals and other needs.

Bon Jovi, through his New Jersey restaurant JBJ Soul Kitchen, took to social media recently where they announced that it would be offering dinners to federal workers every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Brunch, meanwhile, is in order on Sundays.

“To federal workers and their families, remember Soul Kitchen is a resource for you,” the restaurant wrote via Facebook on Jan. 16. “If you are a furloughed federal worker come by and eat and learn what other resources might be available to you.”

Bon Jovi’s restaurant has also partnered with New Jersey governor Phil Murphy to provide the meals, a collaboration that the politician made known on Twitter last Jan. 19.

“Until this shutdown ends, it is incumbent upon all of us to help our fellow New Jerseyans through this difficult time,” Murphy said. “Thrilled to team up with @JBJSoulFound to offer meals to furloughed federal workers this Monday, 12p-2p.”

Other restaurants have done the same, such as World Central Kitchen. The kitchen was founded by chef José Andrés who announced on Twitter last Jan. 14 that he would be teaming up with the private sector to also feed federal workers.

“Big news! We will open a kitchen on Pennsylvania Ave this week to join private sector [efforts] to feed federal employees during the shutdown,” Andres wrote. “It’s only fair to feed Americans in need! #ChefsForFeds.”

Poor Richard’s Restaurant in Colorado Springs began offering free meals to government employees and their families last Jan. 3. The restaurant also urged other businesses to follow suit.

“For every week of the government partial shutdown, with government employees not being paid… Poor Richard’s Restaurant will give a FREE meal to those employees and their families,” the restaurant announced via Facebook.

“Just present your government ID at the restaurant register and your meals are on us!”

Washington, D.C. bakery Baked by Yael, meanwhile, started offering free coffee to federal workers last Dec. 23, 2018.

“If you’re a federal employee or contractor, stop by our bakery across from the National Zoo for a free coffee during the #shutdown, while supplies last,” the bakery wrote on Facebook. “It’s just a small gesture to thank you for your service and show our support for all our federal friends!”

The government shutdown came to light on Dec. 22, 2018 after Trump and the Democrats failed to reach a budget agreement when it came to his demands for his $5.7 billion U.S.-Mexico border wall, meant to ward off immigrants. Trump rejected a short-term legislative fix to the shutdown last Jan. 14 and remains firm about his border wall, taking to social media to argue that it is needed for security and humanitarian reasons. JB

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