Our mission: Just Go Feed People
AJ Foundation is a faith-based, non-profit disaster relief organization. We exist to provide professionally prepared, restaurant-quality meals to victims, volunteers, and first responders in natural disasters and national emergencies, and we partner with existing like-minded organizations to further their mission by providing food service in underserved communities across the country.
Our Community-Centric Model
We work with existing organizations within a community to maximize our joint efforts and to strengthen the community itself. Our focus is not solely placed on our immediate impact but on long-term recovery and enrichment, as well.
By partnering with local organizations and volunteers, our work can continue long after the AJ Foundation’ team and trucks depart. In instances where we retain a permanent presence in an area, we do so by providing locals with the necessary equipment and materials, and by training them to staff and maintain operations for themselves.
Local Churches
Local churches and Christian organizations become the hub for our emergency deployments and community outreaches. We work in partnership with these organizations to maximize the long term impact of our work and to highlight their existing ministries as a beacon of hope for the community.
Mobile Kitchens
AJ Foundation sets up our mobile kitchen, refrigerated trailer and team of professional chefs on site to plan, prepare and serve restaurant quality meals for the community members in need. Our experience and mass service capabilities increase the work able to be accomplished by our local partners.
Local Volunteers
Local volunteers come alongside AJ Foundation and our local ministry partners to help meet the need within their own community. Their service creates a lasting connection between the volunteers, those we serve and our local partners. This connection strengthens the bond within the community and helps volunteers get plugged in to long-term ministries.
Chef Gary LeBlanc
Welcome to AJ Foundation, and thank you for taking a moment to look into our ministry. When I founded AJ Foundation in 2006, I could never have imagined all that God would do through us.
At the time, I was broken by what I witnessed while volunteering in my hometown of New Orleans during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The devastation was so intense and widespread. Lives were completely disrupted. The community was in ruins. After Katrina, I saw first-hand the incredible difference a hot meal could make, but with thirty-five years in the hospitality industry under my belt, I was surprised and outraged by the quality of food being served.
I knew something more could be done, and I became inspired to the point of distraction by the idea of serving high-quality food in a disaster zone. Little did I know how far that distraction would lead. To date, we have served over nearly 20 million meals! AJ Foundation now has six mobile kitchens and four community kitchens, and we are able to respond across the United States, as well as abroad. Please seize this opportunity, as I did over 15 years ago. Volunteer or partner with us today to see what God will do.
