Our Impact

Latest News

JOINING THE ARMY – TOM MIRABELLA, WINGMAN PLANNING

01/18/2023

Chef Lou’s Army is always proud to offer more value to our communities, whether it comes from giving a delicious hot meal when it is needed most, or it comes […]

Chef Lou’s Army Secures Additional $250,000+ For FREE Meal Distribution

01/14/2023

Our coalition of restaurants in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, N.J., Chef Lou’s Army has officially secured a supplement to our original $600,000 Sustain & Serve NJ grant via the New Jersey Economic Development Authority […]

CHEF LOU’S ARMY SALUTE: JERSEY SHORE RUNNING CLUB

01/14/2023

Chef Lou’s Army would like to salute the Jersey Shore Running Club for choosing our organization to support with their 16th annual Twilight Run. This long standing Manasquan tradition raised […]

OUR IMPACT – SEASIDE HEIGHTS SCHOOL DISTRICT

01/12/2023

Christopher Raichle – Principal How Has Chef Lou’s Army Helped You and Your Community? On behalf of the staff and students of the Hugh J. Boyd, Jr. Elementary School, we […]

OUR IMPACT – ABBA’S HEART OUTREACH

01/12/2023

Pastor Marylu Ferrara How Has Chef Lou’s Army Helped You and Your Community? ABBA’S Heart Outreach is a street ministry in Ocean County, We are under Christian Revival Center Church […]

CHEF LOU’S ARMY SALUTE: DARCY PARK BOUTIQUE

01/04/2023

Chef Lou’s Army would like to Salute Darcy Park for their long time support of our mission in delivering hot restaurant quality meals to those in need and struggling. Darcy […]

OUR IMPACT – CENTRAL REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

12/07/2022

Thomas Gallahue Director of Student Services Central Regional School District How Has Chef Lou’s Army Helped You and Your Community? Dear Chef Lou; I would like to extend a heartfelt […]

OUR IMPACT – ASBURY PARK, SATURDAY SOUP OF TRINITY CHURCH

11/09/2022

Derek Bloom Asbury Park, Saturday Soup of Trinity Church How Has Chef Lou’s Army Helped You and Your Community? They have given us 1000’s of healthy meals to help fight […]

OUR IMPACT – PANTHERS LET’S EAT

10/05/2022

Kate Roach Panthers, Let’s Eat from Point Pleasant, NJ How Has Chef Lou’s Army Helped You and Your Community? I run a non profit organization in Point Pleasant called Panthers, […]

CHEF LOU’S ARMY AWARDED $500,000+ FOR FREE MEAL DISTRIBUTION

10/05/2022

A coalition of restaurants in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, N.J., Chef Lou’s Army has officially secured its third sequential Sustain & Serve NJ grant via the New Jersey Economic Development […]

GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY @GOVMURPHY TWEET

04/24/2022

View Post on Twitter Chef Lou Smith founded Chef Lou’s Army after the pandemic hit to help provide free and nutritious meals to Monmouth and Ocean County families and seniors […]

Chef Lou’s Army Feeding Those In Need Throughout Monmouth County

12/31/2021

READ FULL ARTICLE – December 31, 2021 The Journal – Chef Lou’s Army is providing tens of thousands of hot, nutritious meals to families in need. The nonprofit’s mission is […]

Free Hot Lunches Available On Wednesdays In Toms River

12/15/2021

Read Full Article in Asbury Park Press TOMS RIVER — Free hot lunches will be available for those in need starting at noon Wednesday at the First Assembly of God […]

Chef Lou’s Army To Deploy 70,000 FREE Meals

09/13/2021

A strategic coalition of regional restaurants, 501-C-3 Chef Lou’s Army (CLA) has been awarded a $700,000 New Jersey Economic Development (NJEDA) grant to provide healthy, hot meals to residents of […]

CLA Provides $10,000 Directly To A Need We Feed

05/04/2021

Chef Lou’s Army held its 1st annual Golf Outing on Monday, April 26 at Manasquan River Golf Club, supporting our food distribution partner, A Need We Feed. 144 golfers (sold out […]

Toms River Food Giveaway One Year Later: ‘I Don’t Know When It Is Going To Stop’

03/25/2021

Read more on APP.com Jean Mikle Asbury Park Press For the last several weeks, hot meals have been provided by Chef Lou’s Army, helmed by Chef Lou Smith of Blend on […]

CLA Awarded 250K Grant From The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)

02/27/2021

Army Friends and Supporters, We have some amazing news to share with all of the CLA Family and wanted you to be the first to know – the Army is […]

CHEF LOU’S ARMY HOSTS BLOCK PARTY FUNDRAISER, DONATES $2,000 TO FEED JERSEY SHORE AREA FAMILIES

09/25/2020

Chef Lou’s Army presents A Need We Feed with $2,000 to feed Jersey Shore families this holiday season

Chef Lou’s Army Hosting Block Party ~ “Safe In The Streets”

09/11/2020

Safe In The Streets Block Party

Chef Lou’s Army: Official Launch Video ~ May 6, 2020

05/06/2020

WATCH: Chef Lou’s Army is mobilized and ready to serve. DONATE A MEAL TODAY.

PRESS RELEASE: May 6, 2020

05/06/2020

Announcing Chef Lou’s Army ~ Delivery of 50,000 FREE Meals in First 50 Days

Manasquan Chef Donates 50k Meals In COVID-19 Response

04/27/2020

If Chef Lou Smith is anything, he is a man of action. As it became clearer that the COVID-19 pandemic would have a huge impact on all facets of life […]

Not Exactly Business As Usual At This Barnegat Restaurant

03/31/2020

Soon after Barlow closed up, he received a call from a recruiter. It didn’t take much convincing for Barlow to enlist in Chef Lou’s Army. He now serves as part […]

SHORE CHEFS USE THEIR KITCHENS, SKILLS TO FEED THOSE IN NEED

03/27/2020

Chef Lou Smith isn’t one to sit around. He’s the kind of guy who’s always moving, always improving, always helping. And in the current situation, there are plenty who need […]

You Won’t Believe What Jersey Shore Restaurant Featured On Chef Ramsay’s To Hell And Back Is Doing During The Coronavirus Pandemic!

03/26/2020

MANASQUAN-Blend on Main, one of two Jersey Shore restaurants featured this year on Chef Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back has found a new purpose during the coronavirus […]

03/19/2020

Restaurant owners say that they simply cannot afford to keep their staff while customers remain inside their homes to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Derek Shields and his wife Emily […]