TJ's Pizzeria Café is in midst of annual food drive

Offering donors a pound of pasta for donations, owner Tim Deaver hopes to make a difference, By Laurie Gordon Wantage — Tim Deaver has been in the pizza business since he was 16. He grew up in West Milford and had a job working at the local pizzeria. Little did he know that years later, that same pizzeria would be one of a five-restaurant chain he owned. The first TJ’s Pizzeria store was opened in October, 1991 in Wantage. Since then, four more TJ’s locations have been opened — in West Milford, Franklin, Oak Ridge and Sparta. His business is one of the larger chains in retail in Sussex County. More than 12 employees support their families from TJ’s pizzeria and over 50 of his staffers are students who live and go to school in Sussex County. All together, over 75 people are employed at TJ’s Pizzeria Cafe. An eye to the community TJ’s Pizzeria has been supporting non-profit organizations in this area from the time they opened their doors, offering special pricing and discounts for fire departments, EMT volunteers, DPW workers, schools with hot lunch programs, daytime child care, athletic groups and all their committee volunteers, non-profit carnivals, tricky tray events, bingo night door prizes, and more. Two of Deaver’s three children work with him in the family’s Franklin restaurant and the business has spawned a non-profit entity led by Deaver’s wife, Pamela. The restaurant’s biggest non-profit project is After Holiday Food Drive, which began Jan. 11. “We’re bringing in the New Year by reaching out to the needy families in the area,” said Deaver, “This time of the year, food banks are running low from the holiday rush and helping to replenish them is not easy.” Each TJ’s restaurant has a food drop off box and the first 50 people to drop food receive a coupon for a free slice of pizza and a soda. TJ’s will also match all donations with dry spaghetti and penne pasta. Fresh foods are a staple “Local families and friends have been very good to us as well, from the day we opened,” said Timothy Deaver, who serves as the business’s CEO and company manager. “We still have our original loyal costumers and many new ones. With so much going on in the everyday family life with sports, dance and other child activities, parents need a quick meal delivered that’s healthy. Our commitment to families is top priority...Putting affordable bundles together as a home-style meal replacement solution was, and is, the plan.” Deaver said he’s committed to more than a quick bite. “Our menu is anchored in traditional wholesome foods with dinner sauce recipes passed on in the 1970s and still made that way today with fresh herbs, vegetables and spices. Our pizza is made of high gluten flour, which is high in protein, high-quality Wisconsin cheese, a source of calcium and protein and crushed tomatoes, which contain a multitude of phyto-nutrients.” A matching food drive The restaurant’s biggest non-profit project is After Holiday Food Drive, which began Jan. 11. “We’re bringing in the New Year by reaching out to the needy families in the area,” said Deaver. “This time of the year, food banks are running low from the holiday rush and helping to replenish them is not easy.” Each TJ’s restaurant has a food drop off box and the first 50 people to drop food receive a coupon for a free slice of pizza and a soda. TJ’s will also match all donations with dry spaghetti and penne pasta.