TOMS RIVER – An organization dedicated to feeding veterans and members of their family received a nice donation through a special event recently.
Dine on Us is a 501(c)3 organization on a mission to provide off base dining and entertainment opportunities “for our NJ Joint Base active military families who are not able to do so for themselves due to economic hardships,” organization founder and president Cliff Baker said.
Baker noted that during a meeting with the American Legion Post 129, Toms River, “it was brought to the attention of Dine on Us that our active military families are on a pay scale low enough to qualify them for government assisted programs like food stamps and WIC.”
“They were living in poverty prior to the COVID pandemic even with an additional second income. As soon as the pandemic hit, the spouse had to quit his/her job or quarantine off base for two weeks before he/she was able to return home,” Baker said.
“Now that the restrictions have loosened, the spouses are still limited to work because the outsourced day care is still not allowed back on the base and the spouse’s professional licenses are not transferrable to the state of New Jersey,” Baker added.
“Dine On Us was denied access to bring nutritious meals to the base, so we decided to find ways to get the military families off the base: either as a much-needed family night out, a long overdue date night, entertainment vouchers, a gas card, and groceries. These are all the basic liberties that our active military cannot enjoy,” he said.
There are 125 families stationed in New Jersey who need support. Mike Little, owner and broker of record for Keller Williams Shore Properties and Keller Williams Preferred Properties as well as board member of Dine On Us, took this Red Day opportunity to host a bowl-a-thon fundraiser.
The firm’s Red Day event is held on the second Thursday of May every year when they close all 900 offices and 180,000 agents close for business to help the community in some manner.
Baker said, “Dine On Us has also received a tremendous amount of support from their line of restaurant partners.” He established this connection and relationship through his 32 years in the food service industry with Singer Equipment Company.
Each participating restaurant has agreed to give back a gift card of the same value for each one purchased by Dine On Us. This support allowed for Dine On Us to hit their goal of distributing over $32,500 worth of gift cards before Memorial Day weekend.
Baker added that “once this gift card package is safely and securely in the hands of our active military families, Dine On Us will immediately start Phase 2 with a goal of another $32,500 worth of gift cards for a day on the beach, night on the boardwalk” which will include beach passes with umbrella and chairs, free parking, boardwalk rides and games, dinner, and a Kohr’s ice cream.
For additional information on Dine on Us and to see a full list of participating restaurants, visit dineonus.org.
