It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Haddon Heights, NJ is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Thank you for all you and your company has done for my family. Everyone that”
“Thank you for all you and your company has done for my family. Everyone that”
“Great place to work for”
“There's one thing I look for in an Agency and that's Communication, Communication covers a”
“I have known Kathy Godwin for over 30 years and she has been actively involved”
“Kathy and her caretakers made our difficult situation less difficult. They were warm , accommodating”
“Thank you for all you and your company has done for my family. Everyone that came here was amazing to my parents. Alexandra was priceless to us. Thank you.”
“Thank you for all you and your company has done for my family. Everyone that came here was amazing to my parents. Alexandra was priceless to us. Thank you.”
“Great place to work for”
“There's one thing I look for in an Agency and that's Communication, Communication covers a lot, how a Company interacts with its Clients and Their Employees if You have Happy Employees You Will have Happy Clients All the Agency wants is Happiness for All: I really Enjoy working for Always Best Care! The End????”
“I have known Kathy Godwin for over 30 years and she has been actively involved with my family for all of those years. She has always been a part of our family, and I would trust her with any situation that should arise. Kathy is and has been a loyal friend to both me and my father. She watched all my children grow up and has always been active in their lives. If there was ever a family emergency Kathy was always there to assist with any of our needs. We treasure her friendship and know that we can always count on her support in any situation. I can honestly and highly recommend Kathy Godwin's business as a care provider. I know that all clients she receives will get the best care and attention that they deserve. I would not hesitate to use her service for my personal family.”
“Kathy and her caretakers made our difficult situation less difficult. They were warm , accommodating and willing to go the extra mile and that means the world to our family. We had a lot of questions and they had all the answers. I highly recommend this company to anybody who is going through the difficulties of hospice or just needs that extra helping hand with their loved ones. 6 stars!”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Haddon Heights, NJ, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Haddon Heights, NJ understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Haddon Heights, NJ 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
NJ officials meet with couple detained by ICEThe New Jersey woman detained by immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, or ICE, is home with her family. But the fight to keep her here in the United States continues.The BriefHADDON TOWNSHIP, N.J. - Two weeks ago, ICE agents raided a Haddon Township restaurant and took a husband and wife out in handcuf...
The New Jersey woman detained by immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, or ICE, is home with her family. But the fight to keep her here in the United States continues.
HADDON TOWNSHIP, N.J. - Two weeks ago, ICE agents raided a Haddon Township restaurant and took a husband and wife out in handcuffs.
Both are back home, but their family says they still have a long way to go until the ordeal is over.
The backstory:
Celal and Emine Emanet, owners of Jersey Kebab in Haddon Township, were arrested on February 25, 2025 during an ICE raid.
Celal was released with an ankle monitor while Emine was sent to a detention center in Elizabeth.
She was released on bond March 12.
Related
A community is showing a South Jersey family support after their beloved restaurant in Haddon Township, Jersey Kebab, got an unexpected visit from ICE officers.
What they're saying:
The Emanet family is overwhelmed by the love and support of family, friends and even strangers.
Emine said, "I’m so happy! They are my family and they all said welcome home and it touched my heart!"
Customer Steve Barton said, "You see it on the news, but you don’t think it could happen in somewhere where you live. You don’t think that you’d be impacted by it, but I’m so proud of this community."
System is broken:
Ever since they were detained, friends and customers of Jersey Kabob wrote letters on behalf of Celal and Emine to help keep them in this country.
They’ve been waiting for word on their green card application for years, in a system that state and local officials say is broken.
"There is a very real difference of a broken immigration system. The border issues we’ve seen down to the south and what we see behind us today – a huge difference," New Jersey Representative Donald Norcross stated.
Mayor Randall Teague said, "I hope there is and there should be a path to citizenship for them. These are the types of people that we want to have in our country and we should be able to have them legally in our country."
Related
South Jersey mother Emine Emanet has been released from a detention center in Elizabeth on bond after she and her husband were detained following an ICE raid on their family-owned business, Jersey Kebab.
Dig deeper:
The couple’s 25-year-old son, Muhammed has been shouldering most of the weight of the stressful situation and admits it hasn’t been easy, "It hasn’t been, I mean, to be honest, until you asked me, I don’t really think about how I feel. But, then you know, somebody asks you, like, ‘How are you doing?’ You just keep moving, day by day."
And, Emine couldn’t be more proud and then spoke a phrase in Turkish, to which Muhammed translated, loosely, saying, "She said as she was my age, she was always outgoing, very outspoken and not afraid to say anything and always being an independent young woman, so she’s like, ‘I see my genetics in him.’"
What's next:
Emine was supposed to be in court next week, but her husband’s case isn’t set for another month. Their attorney is trying to have both of them appear together so they can know their fate at the same time.
The couple's son says his mother's deportation hearing is set for next week and his father's is in May.HADDON TWP., N.J. (WPVI) -- The owner of Jersey Kebab, the popular Haddon Township, New Jersey, restaurant, was released on bond Wednesday evening, two weeks after she was arrested by ICE agents.When Emine Emanet arrived home to South Jersey, she was met by family members and friends who were ready to celebrate he...
The couple's son says his mother's deportation hearing is set for next week and his father's is in May.
HADDON TWP., N.J. (WPVI) -- The owner of Jersey Kebab, the popular Haddon Township, New Jersey, restaurant, was released on bond Wednesday evening, two weeks after she was arrested by ICE agents.
When Emine Emanet arrived home to South Jersey, she was met by family members and friends who were ready to celebrate her return.
"She's just relieved now and appreciating that she's here to enjoy the moment with us," Emine's son, Muhammed, told Action News as he translated for his mother.
Immigration officials arrested Emine and her husband, Celal, at their restaurant on February 25. Celal was released that day with an ankle monitor to care for one of their sons, but Emine was taken to a detention center in North Jersey.
"She was randomly picked up and placed somewhere where she felt like she was criminalized for no reason," Muhammed translated. "She said she was looking around the walls and questioned what her purpose was for her to be there."
The Emanet family came to the U.S. from Turkey in 2008 on an R-1 Visa.
Celal says he applied for a green card before the visa expired but says the family's immigration status has been pending since 2016.
An immigration judge ruled on Tuesday that Emine Emanet could be free on $7,500 bail.
Family members say they are grateful the judge granted bond, but their legal battle continues.
RELATED: NJ community raises thousands of dollars for couple detained in ICE raid
A deportation hearing for Emine that was previously set for next week has been canceled. Now, the family's attorney is working to get Emine and Celal's cases heard at the same time.
Muhammed said while his family pays taxes, they are not eligible for any benefits, like social security, because they haven't been granted permanent residency. He believes their story is evidence that the immigration system is flawed.
"Hopefully, with the decision that's going to come in court, people will see that immigrants that are here, trying to do better for the community... They deserve a chance to have equal rights," he said.
For now, Emine said she is thankful to be reunited with her family and friends.
"Now that she's back, we feel like our feet are finally touching the ground again. Now we're back to life," Muhammed said.
Emine has two meetings with ICE officials scheduled for Thursday morning.
On Thursday afternoon, she plans to visit Jersey Kebab to thank the community members who have stood by her family during this time.
Muhammed said, "To see complete strangers turn into our family over the years, and for them to take care of us like we're their family, she's just very emotionally touched by that."
Copyright © 2025 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Elected officials joined members of the family of Emine and Celal Emanet, the owners of Jersey Kebab in Haddon Township, NJ, to speak out after the couple's recent arrest by officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.H...
Elected officials joined members of the family of Emine and Celal Emanet, the owners of Jersey Kebab in Haddon Township, NJ, to speak out after the couple's recent arrest by officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Haddon Township Mayor Randall Teague called the arrests a "tragedy" during remarks on Thursday.
"They couldn't be nicer. You go in there and get your food and they try to give you more food," Teague said smiling. "You couldn't ask for better people to be in our community."
In a statement released on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, officials with Haddon Township, Haddonfield, and Collingswood called foul following the recent arrests due to the couple's pending immigration status.
"This incident is appalling and an unfortunate example of just how broken the immigration system is here in our country,” Camden County's commissioner director Louis Cappelli Jr. said in a statement. “This couple works hard every single day to provide for their four children, grandchildren and to feed the community. They have been left without any options when it comes to their immigration status and to be arrested for something they have no control over, is unacceptable. The Board of Commissioners and the entire Camden County community has come together to support the Emanet family and to say that we will not stand for something like this in our community.”
In a statement, officials said the couple moved to the United States in 2008 on an R1 visa and, before it expired, Celal had applied for a green card.
However, in a statement, officials said that Celal said that green card application was denied three times and the couple has "been in limbo since 2016."
The couple's restaurant, Jersey Kebab on 150 Haddon Avenue in Haddon Township, New Jersey, was raided by ICE officers on Tuesday and the couple's son, Muhammed Emanet, showed up to work that morning to find federal agents taking his parents into custody.
"When I came in realizing that someone had my mother in handcuffs, that's when I knew it was the beginning of what we have envisioned for so long," he said. "I haven't been able to sleep at all throughout the night."
On Thursday, Muhammad Emanet said that the community's support has brought his family closer to his neighbors throughout the community.
"This really extends our family to a much broader circle," he said. "Our family, which is our customers, that we have gained throughout the years that we have spent here, is now truly our family because they are now seeing our deepest burdens that we have dealt with for years."
Immigration attorney Joseph Best said he’s been working with the couple for years.
He told NBC10 the couple originally came to America from Turkey on visas nearly two decades ago but fell out of status and have been working to obtain it.
Best told NBC10 Celal Emanet has been released from custody with an ankle monitor while his wife remains in custody at an ICE detention center in North Jersey.
Beloved NJ diner temporarily closed after fireHADDON TWP., N.J. (WPVI) -- At the Westmont Diner in Haddon Township, New Jersey, customers stopped by all day Wednesday not knowing their regular lunch spot was closed."I pulled up, parked the car. And it's like the door is locked. What's going on? I look inside, it's dark," said Tom Wilkie of Pennsauken, N.J.The longtime favorite eatery on West Cuthbert Boulevard is temporarily closed after a fire overnight damaged part of the building.Fire crews were calle...
Beloved NJ diner temporarily closed after fire
HADDON TWP., N.J. (WPVI) -- At the Westmont Diner in Haddon Township, New Jersey, customers stopped by all day Wednesday not knowing their regular lunch spot was closed.
"I pulled up, parked the car. And it's like the door is locked. What's going on? I look inside, it's dark," said Tom Wilkie of Pennsauken, N.J.
The longtime favorite eatery on West Cuthbert Boulevard is temporarily closed after a fire overnight damaged part of the building.
Fire crews were called around 1:30 a.m.
Flames damaged equipment on the roof of the building.
Betty Szymanski stopped by when a friend told her about the fire.
"We were here last night. They had a psychic dinner," she said. "I'm heartbroken. I've been coming here forever, and this crew here at the Westmont Diner is the best ever."
A letter on the locked door says no one was hurt and the damage was minimal.
According to hours listed online, the diner does not operate 24 hours a day, and was closed at the time of the fire.
"This was the Crystal Lake (Diner). It's been many variations, but I've been coming here since I was young," said Paul Rogers.
This restaurant was indeed called the Crystal Lake Diner, which had a fire in 2014, causing serious damage.
In 2020, new owners came in and relocated the Westmont Diner to this location.
We spoke to lots of regulars after the fire.
"Every Sunday morning after church, we come here," said Bill Holscher, who always orders the French toast.
"The food's delicious, the people are very very kind. And you're in and out," said Roy Coco, who works nearby.
The cause is under investigation by the Haddon Township. Fire Marshal, but no foul play is suspected.
We were not able to reach the owner of the diner for comment on Wednesday.
The statement put out by the diner on social media doesn't say how long they expect to be closed, but does say they hope to reopen soon.
Copyright © 2025 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
HADDON TWP., N.J. (WPVI) -- Community members gathered outside Jersey Kabab to welcome home Emine Emanet after she spent 16 days in a detention facility after being arrested by ICE agents.People brought gifts and flowers, others drove by, honked their horns and waved."I feel good for the family. They're here!" said Jim Hansen, who hugged the c...
HADDON TWP., N.J. (WPVI) -- Community members gathered outside Jersey Kabab to welcome home Emine Emanet after she spent 16 days in a detention facility after being arrested by ICE agents.
People brought gifts and flowers, others drove by, honked their horns and waved.
"I feel good for the family. They're here!" said Jim Hansen, who hugged the couple outside the restaurant.
SEE ALSO: Business owner released on bond after being arrested by ICE in Haddon Twp.
Celal Emanet translated his wife's message to the people who came to see her.
"We see right now, we touched their heart. That's why she is very happy. We didn't see that until this time," said Emanet.
The last time she was inside the restaurant was on February 25. That was the day ICE agents arrested her and her husband because their visas had expired. The couple moved to the United States from Turkey in 2008 on an R1 Visa. When that expired, they went through the legal channels for a green card, but their status has been pending since 2016.
RELATED: NJ community raises thousands of dollars for couple detained in ICE raid
Emine was released on $7,500 bail on Wednesday night and wanted to thank the community that raised more than $320,000 for her cause.
"God made us to love each other, not to fight each other," Emanet said.
Community members said they had been following this case very closely.
"We've been watching on the news and seeing what they've gone through. Taking the husband away, taking the wife away. And it's like, why?" said Ramona Miller, who came out to the restaurant from Pennsauken.
"I'm so happy," said Kate Bruno, of Haddon Township. "For the community, this is a huge win."
The couple plans to hold a large party when Ramadan ends on March 30. They will host a free meal for all who come out to the restaurant that day as a way to say thank you.
"She is going to make some gyros for people, rice, salad, desserts. We are going to celebrate on that day," said Emanet.
Copyright © 2025 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
856-432-6030
