The Friends of Jean Webster are making some big changes this year as they prepare to open a hot meal program for the first time since Sister Jean’s Kitchen closed in 2019.

“A realistic opening now is Feb. 1,” said Director of Development Paige Washington, of Linwood, who said the hot meal program will likely start with Wednesday afternoon meals and work up to hot lunches Monday through Friday.

Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase, “bloom where you’re planted”? Well, Sister Jean’s Garden is in full bloom and producing quite the harvest for the community. The thriving garden is located on the grounds of the former Saint Monica’s Church on North Pennsylvania Avenue, in Atlantic City, now home of the relocated Sister Jean’s Kitchen….

Damage from Superstorm Sandy and conflict with tourism interests ended Sister Jean’s Kitchen’s longtime mission of serving hot meals to the homeless through a church on Pacific Avenue in 2019.

“We haven’t done congregant feeding since it closed,” said John Scotland, a retired Presbyterian minister who is executive director of Friends of Jean Webster, the nonprofit that continues her work. Webster died in 2011. “By fall we should be doing it again.”