Comedians Stand Up Against Hunger

Elijah’s Promise to Host Comedy Event in New Brunswick to Raise Funds for Soup Kitchen

A first ever comedy night to raise funds for Elijah’s Promise’s Soup Kitchen is being held in New Brunswick on Thursday, March 18th at The Crossroads Theatre in New Brunswick.

The event boasts two featured comedians of different political stripes: Joey Novick, a Democratic activist who organized the event, and Assembly Republican Conference Leader Jon Bramnick. In addition, special comedy guest appearances are being made by Scott Blakeman and Jeff Kreisler. The four comedians are teaming up to help Elijah’s Promise further their mission to fight hunger and the show is being co-sponsored by the New Brunswick Cultural Center. All of the comedians are donating their time to raise funds for the New Brunswick-based soup kitchen which serves over 400 meals daily.

The agency is reporting increases in demand for all of its services including their social service programs, culinary job training school, and soup kitchen. “Need is up and donations by many long time supporters is down,” Elijah’s Promise Executive Director Lisanne Finston said. “We continue to struggle every day to meet the needs of the community. We really need people to purchase tickets today so we can feed folks tomorrow.”

Joey Novick has appeared with the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams and Chris Rock, and he currently writes a blog for PolitickerNJ.com. Jon Bramnick has consistently been voted New Jersey’s funniest lawyer and has performed his acts at prestigious forums such as Catch A Rising Star. The guest appearances are truly special: Scott Blakeman who worked with David Letterman on the Late Show, and Jeff Kreisler, winner of the Bill Hicks Spirit Award for thought provoking comedy.

“The opportunity to help those less fortunate by poking fun at myself and my experiences in government is well worth the effort in order to help those who are struggling,” Assemblyman Bramnick (R-Union, Essex, Somerset and Morris) said. “But fighting hunger is no laughing matter. Elijah’s Promise has been a stalwart organization in the effort to provide healthy meals for those who are in need.”

Based in New Brunswick, Elijah’s Promise serves two meals each day during the week and one on weekends to those who are less fortunate. More than 100,000 meals were served in the soup kitchen last year.

Tickets to the event can be purchased in advance at standup.dojiggy.com for $25 or at the door for $35. Admission begins at 6:15 p.m. when refreshments will be served, and the comedians take the stage at 7:00 p.m. Advance registration is recommended because of limited seating.

“Each ticket sold will fund ten meals for our guests at the soup kitchen,” Development & Community Relations Coordinator Michelle Wilson said. “We need folks to Stand Up Against Hunger with us and purchase tickets so we can continue feeding those in need. We cannot thank everyone enough for their support, the comedians who are donating their time and Joey Novick for organizing the event.”

About Elijah’s Promise:

Elijah’s Promise was founded in 1989 as a small soup kitchen based in New Brunswick and has since become a multi-service agency that moves people out of poverty. The organization offers a continuum of services leading to self-sufficiency. These programs include: the New Brunswick Soup Kitchen (the only area emergency feeding center), food programs for individuals living with AIDS, the Promise Jobs state accredited culinary school that provides valuable job training for those in need of work, A Better World Café, Promise Catering, and a partnership with Robert Wood Johnson Hospital to operate the Promise Clinic that provides clients with access to valuable health care services.