Newark Working Kitchens (NWK), a COVID-19 response that activates Newark’s restaurants to deliver nutritious meals to low-income seniors and families, announced it is being awarded $2 million from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). Newark Working Kitchens recently surpassed 750,000 meals delivered to residents in need since the program’s inception in April 2020. NWK has helped more than two dozen restaurants relaunch services and rehire staff, sustaining hundreds of jobs.
Awarded through NJEDA’s Sustain and Serve NJ Program, funding will go directly towards helping NWK participating restaurants continue to deliver nutritious meals to local residents in need. Since its launch, NWK has delivered meals to more than 10,000 residents across 70 locations. All meals are prepared by NWK’s 30 participating restaurants, more than half of which are minority-and woman-owned establishments. Demonstrating the program’s scalable model, NWK is expanding to six new restaurants across Newark.
As Newark’s economy continues its path to recovery from COVID-19, thousands of senior, low-income and disabled housing residents and people without homes are still struggling to access consistent healthy meals during the pandemic. NWK has been actively fundraising to provide safe and consistent access to food for these communities, while providing a vital lifeline for Newark’s most cherished local restaurants. This announcement represents a major milestone in NWK’s progress towards its initial goal of one million meals served.
“Newark Working Kitchens continues to prove itself as a vital response model for aiding the Newark communities most affected by COVID-19,” said Don Katz, Audible founder and executive chairman. “New Jersey’s Economic Development Authority’s generous support will help Newark Working Kitchens expand its impactful reach to communities across the state. I’m calling on donors of all sizes to support this initiative, which has provided thousands of meals to our neighbors while helping local restaurants stay open and retain jobs.”
“Small businesses are the backbone of Newark’s economy and we’re grateful for the resilience and ingenuity of Newark Working Kitchens (NWK) as it continues to raise funding to employ local Newarkers, help reopen our restaurants and take care of our neighbors during these trying times,” said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka.
Newark Working Kitchens was launched by Audible, a company that has made improving the lives of the communities in which it operates one of its defining principles. NWK has received private and philanthropic support to seed this COVID-19 crisis response effort, including a $500,000 grant from the City of Newark, and donations from Audible, PSEG, TD Bank, New Jersey Devils Managing Partners Josh Harris and David Blitzer in collaboration with the Devils Care Foundation, and numerous other local businesses and other organizations and individuals. NWK founders are readying a broad campaign to welcome new investment partners across government, corporations and philanthropy to expand the program to sustain small businesses and address food deprivation in Newark and convey the model throughout New Jersey and beyond.
“Owning a restaurant in Newark, the city I was born and raised in and love so much, is humbling,” said Monique Bonilla, owner of The Weekend Spot. “Covid has made every day harder than the next but I am so happy to be working with Newark Working Kitchens and creating meals with love, like our mothers and grandmothers used to prepare. Equally rewarding is knowing that I can now keep my staff employed and my business afloat. I am very grateful for the opportunity to make meals for my neighbors in need.”
“The hot meals we receive from Newark Working Kitchens are a lifeline for many of the families we serve,” said Carrie Puglisi, Director of Program and Fund Development at La Casa de Don Pedro. “Many have lost loved ones or have faced a significant reduction in income due to job loss. Other families find themselves with more mouths to feed because they now support friends or relatives living with them. We are grateful to NWK for their creative food distribution strategy that supports both Newark restaurant owners hurting from the pandemic and families struggling with food insecurity.”
Current participating NWK restaurants include: Andros Restaurant & Diner, Barcade, Black Swan Espresso, Blueprint Café, Bulgogi Zip,CityRub Smokehouse, Cornbread, Fresh Coast,Harvest Table, Kilkenny Alehouse, King’s Family Restaurant & Catering, King’s #1 Family Restaurant,La Cocina, Marcus B&P, McGovern’s Tavern, Mercato Tomato Pie + Novelty Burger, Mompou Tapas Bar & Restaurant, Nizi Sushi, O’LaLa Empanadas, Panzz Seafood & Wings, Pita Square, Robert’s Pizza, Sigri Indian BBQ, Taino’s Kitchen, The Green Chicpea, The Halal Guys, The Walla, The Weekend Spot, Uncle Willie’s Wings and Vonda’s Kitchen
