Chef Andre Murphy has fed thousands of people through several different avenues, both as a chef and by giving free meals to those in need.
Murphy’s feeding initiatives include his nonprofit Healing For The Soul, the Racing To Feed campaign and Operation Bounce Back.
Operation Bounce Back is a wide-reaching economic relief campaign designed to provide immediate support to individuals and families facing financial hardship. It was born out of grassroots feeding efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since evolved into a full-scale operation offering food, essentials and financial assistance across the East Coast.
Operation Bounce Back combines both in-person outreach and a virtual support platform. The campaign officially launched its online aspect through a Facebook-based initiative called OBB Live, which offers real-time aid distribution via livestreamed pop-up events.
Followers can log on to receive grocery gift cards, gas vouchers and even auto repair support. The platform is structured to eliminate red tape — help is often granted to the first people who comment during live sessions, with no complicated application processes involved.
The initial weeks of the program have focused on distributing hundreds of gift cards and launching “relief baskets” containing essential household items such as canned goods, sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizers and other staples. These baskets are assembled by a team of seniors from Egg Harbor City. Since the start of the pandemic, Murphy’s team has fed more than 25,000 seniors through regular outreach events.
While the current focus is on groceries, hygiene items and mental health support, the campaign is designed to scale up quickly. In the coming months, the initiative plans to expand into helping families with utility bills, rent, mortgage payments and auto relief.
Instead of hosting events as fundraising vehicles, Murphy and his team rely on community partners to cover the cost of relief items and services, which are then distributed under their names. To date, the campaign has secured more than 85 sponsors and continues to build momentum.
A growing number of local businesses and sponsors are stepping in to contribute directly, whether by donating goods or hosting their own pop-ups on the Facebook account to distribute aid.
Mental health is also a key aspect of Operation Bounce Back. The campaign features appearances by advocates, motivational speakers and faith leaders who join the livestreams to offer emotional and psychological support. The aim is to address the emotional toll of financial stress and help people “bounce back” not just economically, but mentally.
In 2026, Operation Bounce Back is planning a six-month East Coast tour beginning in the second half of the year after six months of campaigning. This economic relief tour will target 70 cities along the East Coast — primarily the five most impoverished cities in each state from Maine to Florida.
The goal, Murphy said, is to inject approximately $400,000 of aid into each location through direct community support. This will include in-store grocery giveaways, bill payment assistance and one-on-one support for families at risk of eviction or businesses struggling to survive.
