“When you respect and support people you create a larger and more vibrant community. Not only food matters but how you live through that experience. It’s never wrong to pursue what is just and right.”
Our Mission
The Blue Bears Special Meals restaurant, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing meaningful employment opportunities for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
The employment situation for people with IDD in North America is alarming:
80% of people with IDD are unemployed in the U.S., and 28% have never held a job.
Under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, businesses can apply for authorization to pay employees with disabilities up to 50% less than other employees. In New Jersey, individuals with IDD earn, on average, 30% less than their non-disabled peers.
At Blue Bears, we are committed to equality and pay all our employees the minimum wage of $15.13 per hour. Over the past five years, we have successfully trained 15 young adults with Down syndrome, autism, and other spectrum disorders. Six of them are still employed and are working daily. We call them our “Little bears”.
Every day, with the help of the staff, they prepare and serve fresh and balanced meals with an incomparable international flair.
100% of the revenue we earn is used to cover food ingredients, supplies and part of of labor cost.
Your donation is tax deductible Tax ID: 82-4116000
Our Vision
We see that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are important and can do great things in our big world. We believe they should get a fair chance to show what they can do in cooking and helping customers, and this work helps them make money. We see them becoming great at restaurant jobs, learning to be cooks and waiters, and really loving good food. They grow in their jobs with us, and if they want, they can even work in other places in the food world.
Each day, we work to break down prejudices and foster acceptance, making Blue Bears Special Meals a truly special and unique place.
We think they help our community a lot by showing how good it is to respect and support each other. Because we can see this, we serve with an exuberant enjoyment of life, also known as ‘joie de vivre’.
Our Team…
The staff's dedication creates a welcoming community, and each dish reflects the restaurant's commitment to cooking excellence. It's not just a place to eat; it's an experience crafted with heart and purpose.
…our story
The Blue Bears Restaurant provides a place of dignity to work. The IDD employees are involved with helping to prepare fresh balanced meals and pastries, daily homemade from scratch.
Confidence
This initiative aims to foster confidence and well-being among IDD individuals by actively involving them in the preparation of fresh, balanced meals and baked goods for the community
Skills first
Blue Bears is helping them develop skills in food preparation, service, and customer interactions. Each day, we work to break down prejudices and foster acceptance, making Blue Bears Special Meals a truly special and unique place.
Sharing
Our goal is to engage and uplift the local community, creating a space where everyone feels valued and respected.
The Blue Bears restaurant is a welcoming space where families, friends or colleagues can gather, sharing brunch together while supporting our mission.
Independence
By ensuring fair compensation, we empower them to meet their basic needs, pursue personal goals, and engage more fully in their communities. Financial stability fosters confidence, enabling individuals to make choices that enhance their well-being and encourages a sense of responsibility and self-sufficiency.