Local Chef Prepares Thousands of Hot Meals for Community

By Cindy Christy Fertsch

In 2020, Chef Andre Murphy was honored as Hometown Hero in Shore Local for his tremendous good works in the community. In the year since, Murphy has not slowed down one bit! In fact, he has served up another 6,000 plus hot meals to those in need with plans to do even more.

Chef Andre Murphy

It all began in 2020 when his church needed a new roof, Murphy decided to put his talents to work for a good cause. Murphy’s signature dish, Chicken and Potatoes did the trick. “It was my mother’s recipe and my favorite growing up,” shared Murphy. For six weeks, Murphy prepared and sold his Chicken and Potatoes, with all the proceeds going to his church, Grace Tabernacle in Pleasantville.

During that summer,  Murphy saw that many people were struggling to put food on the table. “Amid the pandemic, in an area that depended on hospitality, folks were hit hard,” said Murphy.

Murphy felt called to help. He formed the Community Feeding Tour, taking Murphy’s Chicken and Potatoes on the road to feed those in need. In the Fall of 2020, Murphy’s Tour 1 fed 3,500 people. Tour 2, in the summer of 2021, fed 2,400 people. Tour 3 of Murphy’s Community Feeding Program recently kicked off on Oct 28th with 700 hot meals prepared and presented to frontline workers at Atlanticare on First Responder Day.

November 4th marked the first anniversary of Murphy’s Community Feeding Tour.  Andre has done 80% of the food preparation himself while also working full time as a personal chef at Sacred Missionaries in Linwood.  Murphy was born and raised in Atlantic City and now resides in Pleasantville with his wife, Danielle. Murphy has three daughters, a son, and two grandchildren. “My family has been very supportive of my mission,” shared Murphy.

What’s next for Murphy? “To simply feed as many people as possible, and get more sponsors to make that possible,” said Murphy. “We get a lot of calls from people in need. It’s never enough.”

If you would like more information or to become a sponsor, call 609 338 2829.

November Community Feeding Tour Schedule:

Nov. 3 -Turning Point Day Center – AC 11 am

Nov.3 – Rittenberg Manor- EHC 1pm

Nov.9 – Pleasantville Housing Authority – 1 pm

Nov. 10 – Center City Park (AC) – 11 am

Nov. 17 -Turning Point Day Center- AC 11 am

Nov. 24 – Thanksgiving Dinner

Pleasantville Housing Authority – Noon

Jeffries Towers Apartments – 4:30 pm

Nov. 29 – First Responders Day/ TBA 11 am

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