Help The Bears

The Bear Facts

 The employment situation for people with IDD in North America is alarming. 80% of them are unemployed and 28% never got access to a job.  Those who found a job in New Jersey earn on average 30% less than the minimum wage.

At The Blue Bears, we are committed to equality and pay all our employees the minimum wage of $15.92 per hour. We believe our employees deserve to be paid a fair price for the work that they do.

We can’t deliver this promise only with the benefits of our French Cafe. Our sustainability also depends on Donations from our community.

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”.

Although we have strong traction with our meal service and a loyal customer base, serving an average of 400 meals a week, our revenue does not cover our unique and specialized operational costs. Our main priorities to come are to continue paying our special staff with a fair wage while providing them with the right assistance (training and coaching) every step of the way. At the same time, we need to invest in new kitchen equipment to gain efficiency and adapt to our growth.

By partnering with The Blue Bears, you will make a significant impact on the lives of individuals with IDD and enrich the experience of our customers who love gathering here with colleagues, friends, and family.

We are a 501(c)3 non-profit restaurant your donation is tax deductible. Tax ID: 82-4116000

How You Can Help

BLUE BEARS LEGACY SOCIETY With a major gift of US$50,000 or more, and/or by including our organization in your estate plans or will of trust.

OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF ONE LITTLE BEAR For US$10,000. If you wish, your name will be displayed on the picture of your godchild in our restaurant (concept in development)

WALL OF DONORS For a donation of $500 US to $9999 US.

MONTHLY SUSTAINING MEMBER For the amount of your choice