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.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Historical Schueman House 1883 gets harder without someone by their side. 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 Toms River, 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.
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“I am a current client of this provider I can’t begin to tell to you how pleased I am with Always Best Care. Not only have they placed the perfect caregiver with my mother they also take care of the billing and when I need to speak to a receptionist they are always available. Thank you!!”
“I cannot thank Always Best Care enough for helping us find an ideal Assisted Living Facility for my mother. We moved to the city a month ago and had little idea about the local senior living communities. I’d like to thank the highly experienced and knowledgeable caregivers of Always Best Care for helping our family during the difficult time.”
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“I am a current client of this provider We are very happy with Always Best Care. They do 24hr care, and the caregiver is excellent. I would recommend them.”
“I am a current client of this provider We have hired Always Best Care. We have them for 5 to 6 weeks now. My mother practically does everything herself, but sometimes they might fix her her lunch, there might be a little bit of shopping, and they take her to her appointment. My mother is fine. The hours are fine. She got the hours that she requested. I know she is being billed on her credit card. They have been very helpful and very cooperative. The women always call back.”
“I am a current client of this provider We hired Always Best Care two weeks ago for my mom. The woman comes in three days a week to assist my mother with doing the wash, keeping the house picked up, and just talking to her. She’s wonderful. We interviewed several people, and there was just something about the way they were organized in their presentation and their follow up. that impressed us. They were a level above the other ones that we spoke to. They really listen to you about your needs and work very hard to match the caregiver up with what you’re looking for. We were very impressed with them.”
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. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Cattus Island County Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
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. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Villa Amalfi or visit Ocean County Historical Society, don't feel bad. 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.
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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 Toms River, 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 Toms River, 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.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
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 Toms River, 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.
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The Toms River Regional Schools will be shifting responsibilities as three administrative positions are eliminated for 2025-26.Karen Wall, Patch Staff|Updated Thu, Apr 17, 2025 at 6:03 am ETTOMS RIVER, NJ — The Toms River Regional Board of Education has approved the elimination of three administrative positions for the 2025-26 school year.The board voted Wednesday night to make the cuts, which eliminate the pos...
Karen Wall, Patch Staff
|Updated Thu, Apr 17, 2025 at 6:03 am ET
TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Toms River Regional Board of Education has approved the elimination of three administrative positions for the 2025-26 school year.
The board voted Wednesday night to make the cuts, which eliminate the positions of director of human resources, the manager of facilities and an assistant superintendent.
Assistant Superintendent James Ricotta is retiring from the district as of Sept. 1. The director of human resources is Megan Osborn, and the manager of facilities is Sam Pepe. Their positions are being eliminated as of July 1.
The elimination of the three positions is being conservatively estimated to save $300,000, business administrator William Doering said Wednesday night.
Osborn was hired by the district in 2017; she had worked for the Brick Township Schools before that. Pepe was hired by the Toms River schools in April 2021; he had worked for Central Regional previously.
"These are not things we want to do. These are things we need to do," Superintendent Michael Citta said at the citizens budget advisory meeting in early April. He announced at the time that the assisistant superintendent would be eliminated along with other then-unspecified central office positions.
"Abolishing positions puts more weight on an already thin district," Citta said, adding that the Toms River Regional schools "are well below the mark of where we should be staffed" according to New Jersey Department of Education guidelines.
The district has a public hearing on the budget set for 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, in the auditorium at Toms River North.
Where the responsibilities of the human resources director and the facilities manager will be moved was not immediately clear.
The district is facing a crisis that is years in the making. State aid cuts combined with the 2 percent cap on property tax levy increases have pushed the district to the lowest per-pupil spending of any district in New Jersey that has 3,500 students or more.
The tentative budget is $293.5 million for the 2025-26 school year. That number includes $269.5 million in the general fund expenditures, which is the meat of what it takes to run the distrist. Also included in the overall number is capital fund expenditures, debt service and special revenues, which is federal funding.
The $269.5 million includes a $22.3 million revenue gap that still must be filled.
Citta has said that cutting $22.3 million would require the elimination of nearly 300 staff positions — even as the district struggles with increases in its special education enrollment, English language learners and other educational needs.
Increasing health care benefit costs and insurance costs have forced cuts as well.
Toms River Regional has cut more than 200 positions over the last eight years, district officials said. It also has seen a 60 percent reduction in state funding, a result of the S2 cuts.
The district has submitted an application to the state education department to participate in the new Tax Levy Incentive Aid program. Under the program, qualifying districts would be able to get additional funding through a one-time exception to the 2 percent cap on tax levy increases. Districts that increase their property tax levy above the 2 percent cap would receive additional aid from the state amounting to 5 percent of the amount of the adjustment for the 2025-26 budget year.
To qualify for that program, districts must be under adequacy — spending less than what the state says they should be for a thorough-and-efficient education — and under their local fair share — the amount the state says a district's property tax payers should be spending to fund its schools.
Toms River Regional is $106,761,794 below adequacy and $122,049,294 under its local fair share, according to the state.
The district has sold property to close the gap in the last two school budget years, including the pending sale of its administrative offices at 1144 Hooper Ave. The district is holding out hope that state officials will provide additional funding without forcing a drastic tax increase, either through a loan, as several other districts have been permitted, or other aid.
Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick accused the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen of attracting homeless people to a downtown library.Jean MikleUSA TODAY NETWORKTOMS RIVER – A New Jersey ...
USA TODAY NETWORK
TOMS RIVER – A New Jersey mayor accused singer Jon Bon Jovi's community restaurant and local county commissioners of turning a library into a "day shelter and soup kitchen."
Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick took aim at commissioners and nonprofits, including the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, out of concern about a growing number of homeless men drawn to the Ocean County Library.
The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen community restaurant opened in February inside the library's Toms River branch. The site offers meals for a suggested price of $12, and diners can pay it forward for those who are unable to pay. For those without enough money to afford a meal, volunteering options are available.
Rodrick said he has met with county officials in an attempt to find a solution, but the county has done nothing as the number of homeless people in the area has grown. He said parents should take their children to other branches of the county library instead.
"They've completely ignored all of our complaints and concerns," the mayor said about some of the commissioners. "Mothers shouldn't have to walk through large gangs of intoxicated and mentally ill men with their children to borrow a book."
In a statement released to news outlets, the nonprofit said, "Through our JBJ Soul Kitchen, we connect people to resources and services. Whether they need employment, mental health support, or housing, we try to remove the barriers that are keeping them from thriving, not just surviving."
Ocean County Commissioner Jennifer Bacchione said she's not heard any such complaints about the Soul Kitchen. And those who eat the restaurant say it's been a lifeline.
Bacchione, who serves as liaison to Ocean County's Library Commission, shot back at accusations that the library is housing a "soup kitchen."
The pop-up "does not give away food for free," she noted, adding that customers "have to clean up and do something."
Commissioners, meanwhile, have been in talks with the sheriff's department to place officers at the Toms River and Lakewood branches of the library. "It's a sad situation and we have to come up with a solution," Bacchione said of those experiencing homelessness. "In the meantime, it’s a public library, and we are keeping the people safe."
She said the Soul Kitchen was not put into the library to "serve the homeless," but instead to offer another food option in the downtown for county and library workers and those at the nearby Ocean County Courthouse, along with kids who attend Toms River High School South.
She noted that the temporary lease with the Soul Kitchen expires in May, and the commissioners have not decided yet whether the pop-up will continue.
A New Jersey mayor has some harsh words for Jon Bon Jovi’s charitable initiative.The rock band frontman, 63, and his wife, Dorothea, launched the ...
A New Jersey mayor has some harsh words for Jon Bon Jovi’s charitable initiative.
The rock band frontman, 63, and his wife, Dorothea, launched the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation together back in 2006, with the goal of ending hunger and homelessness.
In their pursuit of the altruistic mission, the couple opened the JBJ Soul Kitchen, a New Jersey-based nonprofit restaurant that has a pay-it-forward model to accommodate all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Inside Jon Bon Jovi and Wife Dorothea's Pay-If-You-Can Restaurant: 'There's a Trust System Here'
As stated on its official website, “It is not a pay-what-you-want model or a soup kitchen,” as customers pay for their meals (the suggested price is $12) and are given the opportunity to pay for someone else's meal, assisting those who can’t pay and instead volunteered their time.
The first restaurant opened in 2011 in Red Bank and then expanded to Toms River, Newark (a permanent location in Rutgers University) and Jersey City (a permanent location in New Jersey City University).
In February, per CBS News, the restaurant opened a temporary pop-up location stationed inside Tom River’s Ocean County Library, which is set to shut down in May. And while most residents praise the star’s commitment to and care of the Jersey communities, Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick has a different opinion on the set-up.
The mayor reportedly believes the restaurant is driving up the homeless population in the town by encouraging unhoused individuals across New Jersey, and even neighboring states, to congregate around the eatery.
According to NJ Advance Media, Rodrick stated, “If they’re going to turn this into a homeless shelter, hell, cut everybody a check and give them a Barnes and Noble gift card.”
“I definitely want it gone,” the mayor continued. “We certainly don't think that the library is a good place. The issue was never Bon Jovi. It was [the] Ocean County Board of Commissioners who engaged with these nonprofits.”
Though the mayor also called the pop-up “a real safety concern,” Ocean County Commissioner Robert Arace pushed back against the mayor’s claims that any alarming incidents have occurred because of the JBJ Soul Kitchen.
“He's saying that incidents have increased?” Arace questioned. “We have data that they have not increased. It is not a soup kitchen.”
Mayor Daniel Rodrick and The Ocean County Board of Commissioners both did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
To date, JBJ Soul Kitchen has served over 208,000 meals, with 59 percent of the meals earned through customers volunteering and 41 percent paid with donations, per its official website.
Despite the mayor’s sentiments, the JBJ Soul Foundation and the JBJ Soul Kitchen are beloved by notable names and A-list stars.
Why Jon Bon Jovi Opened His Community Restaurant for Struggling Students on a College Campus
Back in 2016, during the 10th anniversary of the foundation, former President Bill Clinton praised the eatery and the singer's efforts to combat food insecurity.
"I came here to add my voice of thanks to Jon and Dorothea, who house the homeless and feed the hungry. And remind us all that underneath our differences, we’re not so different after all," said the 42nd president. "If you have not eaten there, you ought to treat yourself."
In 2020, Bon Jovi opened up about their philanthropic efforts, telling PEOPLE, "If we could put a roof over someone's head or put food in their belly, it's quite simple: We don't need a scientist to find the cure."
The JBJ Soul Kitchen and a rep for Bon Jovi did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
The mayor of one New Jersey town says the charitable efforts of rock star Jon Bon Jovi and his wife are creating problems, but others in the area say they're not to blame.JBJ Soul Kitchen helps serve those in needThrough the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, the couple established ...
The mayor of one New Jersey town says the charitable efforts of rock star Jon Bon Jovi and his wife are creating problems, but others in the area say they're not to blame.
Through the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, the couple established JBJ Soul Kitchen, a nonprofit community restaurant that serves those in need with locations in Red Bank, Toms River, Newark and Jersey City.
"Where those who are unable to pay volunteer their time. Those who can pay, pay for their meal and donate to pay it forward," Dorothea Bon Jovi said in an Instagram video.
In February, the couple opened a temporary pop-up food kitchen inside the Ocean County Library in Toms River, and the following month, Bon Jovi and his wife celebrated the milestone 200,000th meal served at their restaurants.
One patron named Michael, who has fallen on hard times and is unsheltered, says it has been a blessing.
"It's something that you feel from the heart where someone has done something for the community," he said.
"It's just a really nice place for us when we are hungry," a patron named Devon said.
But the pop-up restaurant could be "livin' on a prayer" if Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick has his way.
"I definitely want it gone, and I want the county to stop dropping people off in Toms River," he said.
Rodrick says Bon Jovi's restaurant is making his township a haven for people experiencing homelessness, claiming nonprofits are gathering people from across the state and bringing them to the township.
"We certainly don't think that the library is a good place. The issue was never Bon Jovi. It was Ocean County Board of Commissioners who engaged with these nonprofits," he said. "It's a real safety concern. These folks aren't vetted."
Ocean County Commissioner Robert Arace said the county isn't busing anyone to Toms River and that Bon Jovi's pop-up will be at the library until May.
"He's saying that incidents have increased? We have data that they have not increased. It is not a soup kitchen," Arace said.
The Bon Jovis released a joint statement last week, saying, "The JBJ Soul Foundation and JBJ Soul Kitchen are committed to ending homelessness through real solutions. We are not here to just move people around or force them into the shadows. Our foundation has built nearly a thousand units of affordable and supportive housing."
Christine Sloan is an Emmy Award-winning reporter, who covers New Jersey for CBS News New York. Sloan re-joined the station in January 2023. She also worked at CBS News New York from 2004 to 2016.
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