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Superstorm Sandy Victims Dining Out At Union Beach Community Kitchen

UNION BEACH, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A community kitchen in Union Beach is serving up meals in a restaurant setting to Superstorm Sandy victims for those who can't afford to dine out.

As WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported, Gigi Liaguno-Dorr started Spoon Full of Hope with Gateway Church of Christ in January and has served more than 2,700 people.

Diners pay what they can or nothing at all.

Superstorm Sandy Victims Dining Out At Union Beach Community Kitchen

"There is a need for a sense of normalcy in this town and our surrounding towns," Liaguno-Dorr said. "And I knew that it would give people a sense of normalcy.

"They're telling their kids, 'Listen, we're going out to dinner.' The kids don't know what's going on."

Liaguno-Dorr is the longtime owner of Jakeabob's Bay restaurant and bar, which was washed into Raritan Bay during Sandy. Her second restaurant, Jakeabob's Off the Bay, closed last month. She blamed the red tape in receiving Sandy aid.

"Twenty-five years in business, this is the best thing I've ever done," she said.

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