Hearts & Hands for Service: Bonnie Featherstone-Johnson and Dr. Tom Johnson

By: LiliAnn Paras | September 30, 2022 |  , Philanthropy |  Red Bank

FEATURED PHOTO: Meet Your Neighbors and Community Connectors, Bonnie Featherstone-Johnson and Dr. Tom Johnson | CREDIT: Melissa Amorelli

Sometimes it is the small, unsung gestures that make you realize you are in the company of kind- hearted people.

Such an encounter with Bonnie Featherstone-Johnson and Dr. Tom Johnson of Red Bank added context to their larger, more recognized contributions. CM reached out to them after learning they are this year’s recipients of Lunch Break’s Heart to Hand Award, given in recognition for their tireless service to the organization. The CM crew was warmly invited into their home where we were promptly greeted by their pet cat. We later learned that Tom had adopted King Louis—a then 14-year-old cat with kidney problems—because nobody else would, and he and Bonnie embraced his weekly treatment requirements. This spirit of compassion, however, extends far beyond helping a homeless cat. Bonnie and Tom have contributed funds, time, and talent to 180 Turning Lives Around, Community YMCA, Lunch Break, Holiday Express, SOURCE, Meals on Wheels, InterFaith Neighbors in Asbury Park, community gardens, VNA Health Group, and more. Their contributions span the gamut: leading multiple capital campaigns; making phone calls to thank donors; tutoring; sorting; washing dishes; delivering goods; and even to Tom’s stint as a party elf for Holiday Express!

The business acumen of Bonnie and Tom has been invaluable in enhancing their contributions to local nonprofits; Bonnie has experience in clinical research staffing, and Tom’s careers include IT and teaching. And, both are entrepreneurs, having created their own businesses along the way. They met on an airplane in 1984, married in 1986, and between them have six children, fifteen grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren “all living too far away”. While family is most important to them and their careers were rigorous, through the years and presently, they are steady community collaborators.  They help local nonprofits reach their long-term goals as well as volunteer “in the trenches”, weekly, on-site, at a variety of organizations. 

CM is pleased to share the insights of Bonnie and Tom, good reminders that we all can find a way to ease the path of others.
 

PHOTO: Dr. Tom Johnson packs a hygiene bag at The Center in Asbury Park
 

CM: What influenced each of you to become involved with community service?
Bonnie: I like to define my current role in the nonprofit world as that of a ‘Community Connector’. I was a single mother raising three children for ten years and that was the impetus for my work. I see those that are hungry and in need, and that was me 40 years ago. How could I not offer help? In the early 90s I started to meet with four neat women at a local realtor office and we collected auction items for a 180 Turning Lives Around gala. In those days, we thought we were hot stuff because we raised $33K for the auction! I eventually went on their board, followed by board service at the Community YMCA, The Center in Asbury Park, Lunch Break, and recently, the VNA where I will be joining its capital campaign. I also volunteer weekly at 

InterFaith Neighbors in Asbury Park and joined its capital campaign too. I especially love connecting with donors and enjoy making thank you calls—and what a difference a voice makes!

Tom: It’s all Bonnie’s fault (he said with a smile). I was inspired by Bonnie’s enthusiasm for volunteer work even though she was often just as busy as I was. Initially, I would occasionally be roped in to do some volunteer tasks, but I was too busy at that time to make a major commitment.  It wasn’t until we decided to close our business, BonaFide Staffing, that I felt I had time for this. The death of my friend and golfing partner also created a big hole in my schedule. So, when Bonnie went on the board at Lunch Break and took on the capital campaign to expand the small Red Bank site, she persuaded me to monitor the finances. This led to working with Holiday Express as a truck driver and party elf(!), and meal delivery for Meals on Wheels.  I use my teaching background to work for SOURCE out of Red Bank Regional HS, coaching and tutoring DACA students in math and English.  I am now studying Spanish at Brookdale College to improve our communication. I also volunteer to check in and get lunches or groceries for clients at The Center in Asbury on Fridays.  This continues and I now go in on Tuesdays to restock and pack hygiene bags.
 

PHOTO: Bonnie Featherstone-Johnson delivers freshly harvested produce to Lunch Break
 

CM: A large portion of your time and energy serves Lunch Break. Congrats on your Heart to Hand Award!  How did you first get involved with this group?
Bonnie: I chaired an Outreach Committee at our local church for many years and it was in that capacity that I met Gwendolyn Love (Executive Director of Lunch Break) in her tiny little office. I fell in love immediately and asked if I could join her board. I joined and eventually Gwen asked if I would chair their first capital campaign. I had no idea what that entailed, and “invited” Tom to act in a financial capacity with me. We had a fabulous committee that met at our dining room table every Tuesday night. We raised $5M. When a second capital campaign for Lunch Break was envisioned, Tom and I again joined a most sophisticated and committed group of professionals and at this time, we are near our goal of $12M!

Tom: I was inspired by the gentle strength, commitment, and wisdom of Gwen Love. After I got involved, I was encouraged by the reactions of those I helped. Very often these are good people that simply didn’t get the breaks that I had. I enjoyed that work so much that I started working physically for Lunch Break, washing dishes, loading, and unloading trucks, and of course, working on the Finance Committee to monitor financial operations.

CM: What has been most satisfying about your community connections?
Bonnie: The staff and volunteers. Those who work in nonprofits are the most genuine, hardworking and wonderful citizens. They enter the field because of their desire to improve the lives of those in the community.

Tom: It’s really a great opportunity for the engineer, problem solver in me.

CM: Have you been frustrated or discouraged along the way with things you have witnessed? Were you able to remedy those situations?
Bonnie:  I cannot remember ever being discouraged in my association with a charity. My attitude is that we must help them, short and long-term through the many resources here in Monmouth County. And, through the years, I have observed that clients are very grateful and appreciative.

Tom:  Occasionally, some aspects of the work get frustrating.  For example, when Lunch Break had trouble getting volunteers to sort donated pantry goods in our dimly lit basement in very crowded conditions, on low, rickety tables, I recruited a small group to fund and install lighting and sturdy tables as well as to reorganize the space for reasonable traffic.

PHOTO: Bonnie Featherstone-Johnson and Dr. Tom Johnson | Credit: Melissa Amorelli
 

CM: Any tips for those who want to get involved in community service?
Bonnie:  Make time in your busy lives to do productive and meaningful work. From the days of the first capital campaign, I have used the expression, ‘You must be specific to be terrific,’ and that seems to have stuck, universally. Also, colleagues know that I like to start and stop meetings on time. 

Tom:  Volunteering begins with the interest in helping others and the willingness to ask.  Initially, it may not be the most rewarding work – like loading trucks or washing dishes.  But, like anything else, after your work ethic and reliability get noticed, interesting things can come your way.

CM: What do you enjoy doing in your “spare” time?
Bonnie: As a Master Gardener, I volunteer at three local gardens, helping to plant and harvest beautiful produce that feeds Lunch Break clients!

Tom:  Spare time used to include golf and biking.  For about 25 years Bonnie and I sang with the Monmouth Civic Chorus; but that ended with COVID.  Now I spend time with puzzles every day and novels – reading two or three per week.  Then there is the phone and FaceTime with grandchildren.

CM: Favorite quote or philosophy?
Bonnie: When I first started in sales in the early 90s, I listened to motivational tapes as I drove all over the Garden State. From an early pioneer in training materials, Earl Nightingale, I have adopted the phrase, ‘We are all put on this earth to serve.’

Tom: As Helen Keller said, ‘Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.’ It is the coming together of so many diverse people with different skills and interests, to do work that demonstrably helps those who would otherwise be left behind, that makes this work so satisfying.

See this story in print! Colts Neck • Holmdel • Lincroft Edition view here Rumson • Fair Haven • Little Silver • Red Bank • Sea Bright • Locust Edition view here