While serving in the US navy in 1987 and on deployment in the Mediterranean Ocean, the USS Sims was given a last-minute change of orders. From the mouth of the Persian Gulf, they were instead told to dock in Yugoslavia. The USS Stark would then enter the Persian Gulf and hours later was hit by a missile. The missile stuck sonar where I would have been working or sleeping. It was the longest cruise back to the United States filled with guilt and questions.
This stayed with me until we started recovering from Hurricane Sandy and I had just returned to work visiting my restaurant customers. While conducting business at Boston’s in Toms River in walked two Navy sailors lost and hungry. I noticed them at the door and a memory came rushing back. In 1987, I was lost in Cannes, France with two shipmates trying to find a place to eat. When a local couple stepped outside to say there were no restaurants for miles, why don’t you come in and we will prepare you a meal ourselves. The best steak and eggs ever!
This is when I realized why I came back home, God had other plans for me. I offered them and ALL the first responders to come to our home for Thanksgiving. They said great but there are 350 of us! I knew there was only one person to call, Chef Mike of Chef Mike’s ABG. His response was simple, “We got this, Let’s goooo!!!!” We called for the help of all the local chefs we knew like James Costello of Ohana Grill, Jimmy Capone’s of Capone’s, Andy Maglione of Waypoint, Mulligan’s, Caffrey’s, Bum Roger’s, and so many more. The plan was all coming together perfectly until word came out that the first responders could not cross the Seaside Height’s bridge. God intervened once again and one of our volunteers was a volunteer firefighter. The volunteer picked up a fire truck which we were able to package 350 hot Thanksgiving meals and deliver them to all the volunteers on island.
For the next ten years, my wife, Terrie, and I, our children, and this team organized, packaged, and delivered over 1500 hot meals on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and a 4th of July BBQ. At this point our world changed once again with the COVID pandemic. All our longtime friends in the restaurant industry were forced to close their doors. My wife and I quickly changed focus to raise money so we can purchase meals from these restaurants to help keep the lights on until the pandemic passed. In six months, we raised over $400,000.00. We then qualified for a few grants and our total grew to $1,000,000.00. We were able to use all these funds to purchase 100,000 hot meals for those in need.
It was at this time that we were informed that our NJ active military and their families were financially struggling with over 300 families living in poverty. They were dependent on WIC, food stamps, and qualify for welfare. Their economic hardships were from no affordable off base housing since they were only given $1800.00 a month for housing and the non-active spouse had to quit their job to stay home with the children since no day care was available. We formed Dine on Us to create dining and entertainment opportunities for these NJ military and families that these families would not be able to experience on their own. Many times, throughout the year we will host them at a variety of destination spots on the Jersey Shore or cater an event on the base. A random act of kindness to carry them through their toughest of times while serving.
This random act of kindness that carried me through my most trying times in the service has now given me purpose and peace as to why God had me come home so many years ago!
Thank you for reading our story!
Cliff Baker
In this inspiring episode of Grit Won’t Quit, Tom Mirabella and Marc Vazquez sit down with Cliff Baker, founder of Dine On Us, a charity dedicated to supporting active military members through free meals. Cliff shares how his journey began after Hurricane Sandy, sparked by one stranger’s kind act. He discusses his transition from helping two individuals to feeding over 350 people and how he uses his connections in the restaurant supply industry to make a difference. The conversation touches on survivor’s guilt from his time in the Navy, the power of compassion, and the ripple effect of generosity.