Haven Hot Chicken, a beloved food brand that started in New Haven, Connecticut, is more than just a popular restaurant chain. With a commitment to philanthropy and community engagement at its core, Haven Hot Chicken is leading by example in demonstrating how a business can incorporate giving back in meaningful, sustainable ways. Co-founder Jason Sobocinski shares the inspiration behind Haven Hot Chicken’s focus on food security, their impactful partnership with Connecticut Foodshare, and the journey that led them to prioritize community support as a core part of their brand. Here’s a closer look at Haven Hot Chicken’s philanthropic model and what it means for their expanding business.

**Andra Tomsa : How did philanthropy become such a central part of **Haven Hot Chicken’s business model, and what inspired you to make it a focus?

Jason Sobocinski: October 17th was our four-year anniversary since opening our first store in New Haven, and now we’ve grown to nine locations. I’m one of four co-founders, and I come to this business as a serial entrepreneur with over 25 years in food and beverage. For me, philanthropy has always been an integral part of a great business model. I believe that any strong company should give back to its community and that sustainability should be a priority, not just environmentally but financially as well.

At Haven Hot Chicken, we practice environmental sustainability through compostable packaging and eco-friendly utensils made from oyster shells. These aren’t like the flimsy paper straws that dissolve in your drink; these feel like plastic but are completely biodegradable. And on top of being environmentally friendly, these options are cost-effective. They’re currently the same price as plastic utensils and will soon be even cheaper, making this an all-around win.

But we view sustainability from a financial angle, too. Giving back to the community benefits us just as much as the recipients. It creates goodwill, increases brand awareness, and brings in PR that you can’t buy. Community engagement pays dividends in both community loyalty and revenue growth. Philanthropy, done right, becomes part of a sustainable business model. When businesses understand that giving back is an investment that yields returns, we’ll start to see more companies getting involved in impactful ways.

Initially, we donated wherever we could, often providing in-kind contributions, gift certificates, and food donations because, as a startup, we didn’t have a lot of cash to give. But that approach can be unsustainable and time-intensive. So, we decided to focus on one philanthropic cause that could have a real impact across all of Connecticut. Food security quickly emerged as the cause that meant the most to us, and we soon connected with Connecticut Foodshare as our primary partner.

**Andra Tomsa : Can you talk about your partnership with Connecticut Foodshare and the impact it’s had on ****Haven Hot Chicken’s **philanthropic goals?

Jason Sobocinski: Our partnership with Connecticut Foodshare has been transformational, not only for the organization but for our team and community engagement. About a year and a half ago, I contacted

Connecticut Foodshare and suggested a canned food drive across our stores. I eventually connected with their CEO, also named Jason, who invited me to tour their facility in Wallingford. Seeing the scale of their operation was incredible—their massive, state-of-the-art warehouse processes fresh produce from local farms and grocery stores all over Connecticut to ensure high-quality food reaches those who need it.

The numbers I learned were eye-opening: Connecticut Foodshare serves 450,000 food-insecure people across the state, including 125,000 children under the age of 12. That statistic alone blew my mind. Connecticut is one of the wealthiest states in the U.S., yet almost half a million residents are struggling to find their next meal. I realized that we could make a more significant impact with direct financial support instead of simply collecting canned goods. Food-insecure families need fresh, nutritious food, not just canned or shelf-stable items from the back of a pantry.

So, we launched what we call the “Great Banana Pudding Drive.” For every banana pudding sold at Haven Hot Chicken, we donate 50 cents directly to Connecticut Foodshare, which they can then convert into a full meal. We also added a $1 donation option to our online ordering platform and in-store ordering screens. It’s been inspiring to see how many customers voluntarily add that dollar, knowing it’s going to help a neighbor in need. Since starting this initiative, we’ve contributed to over 100,000 meals for people across Connecticut.

To strengthen our partnership even further, our team volunteers at Connecticut Foodshare’s facility. Recently, our general managers, assistant general managers, and co-founders spent four hours sorting and repacking food. In those few hours, we processed 14,000 pounds of food—an amazing experience that brought us closer to Connecticut Foodshare’s mission. After volunteering, we used their boardroom for training, blending team-building with community service. This partnership with Connecticut Foodshare has become a core part of our brand identity, and we’re incredibly proud to support their work.

**Andra Tomsa : I noticed you have an open form on your website where people can request support. How does ****Haven Hot Chicken **choose smaller partnerships and local contributions?

Jason Sobocinski: We empower each store’s General Manager (GM) to make decisions about local contributions because they know their communities best. While we own all nine stores as a corporate brand, we treat our GMs as if they were franchise owners, giving them the freedom and responsibility to manage community engagement. We allocate each GM a monthly budget for local donations, whether it’s gift certificates, food, or supporting local events. Each GM builds connections in their community, enhancing Haven Hot Chicken’s presence and impact at the local level.

For example, in North Haven, we sponsor the U-12 girls’ soccer team, the North Haven Heat. It’s not directly food-related, but supporting local kids is important to us, and it brings the team and their families to our store to celebrate after games. The return on investment from these community sponsorships is fantastic because it’s authentic. Giving back locally helps build our brand in a genuine way that resonates with people. While the Great Banana Pudding Drive remains our primary philanthropic focus, we give our GMs the flexibility to support smaller causes they’re passionate about, ensuring that Haven Hot Chicken stays deeply connected to each community we serve.

Andra Tomsa : What advice would you give to other business owners interested in incorporating philanthropy sustainably?

Jason Sobocinski: My advice would be to start with one focused cause instead of trying to donate everywhere. In the beginning, we were spreading ourselves thin by giving to a lot of different causes. It was well-intentioned but not as impactful. Now, our primary focus is food security, and partnering with Connecticut Foodshare has allowed us to create real, measurable impact. This focus lets us share powerful stats, like how we’ve contributed to over 100,000 meals, which motivates our team and resonates with our community.

Set a budget you’re comfortable with and treat philanthropy like a marketing investment, because it does have a tangible return. At Haven Hot Chicken, we think of our philanthropic efforts as part of our business strategy. Donations should be a sustainable part of your operations, so as you see a return from community support, you can scale up. Giving back is a commitment to the long-term success of both your business and your community.

**Andra Tomsa : **Haven Hot Chicken is expanding beyond Connecticut. How do you plan to maintain your philanthropic focus as you grow into new markets?

Jason Sobocinski: As we expand, keeping food security at the heart of our brand is a top priority. Connecticut Foodshare has already offered to connect us with food banks in other states, and we’re looking at organizations like Feeding America to identify local food banks in the areas we’ll be expanding into, such as Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, and New Jersey. My goal is to personally visit each food bank we consider partnering with, just as I did with Connecticut Foodshare. Experiencing their operations firsthand helps me understand their needs and the impact of our support.

In every state we enter, we want each Haven Hot Chicken location to be aligned with a local food security organization. It’s vital for us that our brand continues to stand for something meaningful no matter where we operate. If anyone reading this knows of impactful food security organizations in the states surrounding Connecticut, we’d love to hear from them. Our goal is to ensure that our donations are making a real difference, helping people access not just food but nutritious, quality meals.

**Andra Tomsa : Finally, any thoughts on the role of food businesses in addressing food insecurity and how **Haven Hot Chicken fits into that role?

Jason Sobocinski: Food insecurity is absolutely a solvable issue, but it requires systemic change along with strong community support and involvement. The pandemic was a bit of an equalizer in terms of food assistance, revealing just how many people—regardless of background—rely on food banks. It helped reduce some of the stigma around seeking food support and showed that food banks are essential safety nets, funded by our tax dollars, and they’re here to help everyone in need. There shouldn’t be any shame in utilizing them.

In Connecticut, food insecurity is surprisingly high for such a wealthy state. Connecticut Foodshare, our partner, supports 450,000 residents who are food insecure, including 125,000 children. Even in affluent areas, the need is significant. There are families who, despite living in towns with high median incomes, still don’t know where their next meal is coming from. One of the wealthiest counties, Fairfield, has families driving up in luxury cars to get food assistance because their income doesn’t match their expenses.

There’s also the issue of food deserts, which people might not expect to find in a state like Connecticut. For example, New Haven has a grocery store, but it’s expensive, and the surrounding suburban stores often have lower prices on the same items, making quality food more accessible to those who don’t live in the city. For low-income families, this means that even when a grocery store is technically nearby, it doesn’t solve the problem of affordable access to nutritious food. When healthy options are out of reach, people often have to turn to cheap, high-calorie processed foods that lack nutritional value, perpetuating health disparities.

At Haven Hot Chicken, we’re committed to addressing food insecurity in a way that goes beyond providing calories—we want to help provide access to good, nutritious food. We use high-quality ingredients, like NAEs (no antibiotics ever) chicken that’s halal-certified, hormone-free, and vegetarian-fed. For us, it’s not just about feeding people; it’s about feeding them well. Lower-income families often lack access to fresh, nutritious food, which has significant long-term health implications. Providing quality food should be about dignity and the basic right to good nutrition.

We’re proud to support food banks like Connecticut Foodshare, which work to bridge these gaps and tackle food insecurity from multiple angles, including addressing food waste. They’re doing the critical work of connecting surplus food to those in need, ensuring it doesn’t go to waste but instead serves its purpose of nourishing people. This comprehensive approach is exactly what we need to make real progress in addressing food insecurity and providing every person with access to nutritious food.