TOMS RIVER, N.J. — The Ocean County Library has announced it will continue to host the JBH Soul Kitchen inside the Toms River branch of the Ocean County library, which has been at odds with Mayor Dan Rodrick.
Rodrick has stated in the media that the pop-up restaurant inside the library has attracted homeless people from across the region, seeking refuge and a free meal. The mayor has cited several police incidents. Now he says Ocean County commissioners Rob Arace and Frank Sadeghi are doing the bidding of Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore, whom he accuses of attempting to manufacture the appearance of a homeless crisis in Ocean County.
“I’m disappointed in the library and our county commissioners who ignored our concerns regarding public safety,” Rodrick said. “Toms River residents pay 25% of the overall county library system tax countywide, and the families in our town don’t even feel safe coming here. I’m going to look into seeing if there’s a way we can opt out of that tax, since they don’t want to listen to the people of Toms River.”
Rodrick contends that Gilmore, who was convicted and sentenced to prison under federal tax crimes, pardoned by President Trump, has a financial stake in building a homeless shelter on Route 9, questioning the commissioner’s real motives behind the lease.
The JBJ Soul Kitchen Pop-Up at the Ocean County Library will extend its stay for another month, continuing to provide nutritious meals and connect guests to critical social services, officials announced this week.
Since launching 11 weeks ago, the pop-up has served more than 2,600 meals, all of which were subsidized, with 45% paid for through donations and 55% earned through volunteer work. The JBJ Soul Kitchen says the initiative has not only addressed food insecurity but also created pathways to stable housing, healthcare, and legal support.
Rodrick said his issue is not with Bon Jovi, who also has another JBJ Soul Kitchen in the township, a few miles away.
He said his concern is that Downtown Toms River has a high school that lets out all of the kids for lunch each day, and many young families who go to the library every day.
The Ocean County Sheriff’s Department has stationed deputies in the library as a response to those incidents.
He cited multiple instances where police response was necessary for multiple incidents, including drug overdoses from the people who patronize the popup soup kitchen.
The Ocean County Library Commission praised the impact of the collaboration. “The JBJ Soul Kitchen Pop-Up has been a notable success, and we are pleased to announce a one-month extension to further build on this meaningful partnership,” said Timothy McDonald, Commission Chair.
The lease is currently for another 30 days, according to a statement issued by JBJ Soul Kitchen.
