Chris Jordan | Asbury Park Press

Sammy Steinlight

NEPTUNE – When Peter Criss, founding drummer of the band Kiss, visited the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties in Neptune Monday, his world was rocked.

“I never knew anything like this existed in America,” Criss said. “You’re always thinking hunger is a Third World problem. We’re Americans; we’re fat; everyone looks pretty heavy to me.”

Criss, along with Q104.3-FM radio host Shelli Sonstein, visited the food bank in their roles as chairpersons of the WindMill restaurant’s summerlong 10,000 Hot Dogs anti-hunger campaign.

“These people are doing amazing stuff and my brain hurts from seeing so much of the good things going on, and I can’t believe so many people are not eating and have no food,” said Criss, a longtime Wall resident who recently was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with his fellow Kiss members. “It’s ludicrous and it’s sad. After today I’ve realized how much I’ve taken things for granted.”

The food bank annually distributes more than 9 million pounds of food to more than 260 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and more. Other roles include a culinary training program, senior food programs and a mobile food pantry.

“People forget, they come down to the Shore on vacation and our job is to remind them that our summer of fun is a summer of hunger for children in Monmouth and Ocean counties because they’re not getting the two meals a day they would normally get in school,” Sonstein said. “This is not something people think of that we’re trying to highlight.”

The 10,000 Hot Dogs campaign kickoff featured a concert by Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes atop the iconic WindMill restaurant in Long Branch on May 23. Customers who make a $5 donation through Labor Day via the website10000hotdogs.com or by texting “hotdog” to 41444 will help the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties deliver 15 meals to those in need this summer.

“We hope to have a very big wrap-up for the next 14 days that the campaign is alive,” said Rena Levine Levy, co-owner of the WindMill restaurants.

Also, hot dog maker Sabrett will donate up to 10,000 hot dogs, matching each $5 donation with a goal of raising $50,000. That would mean 160,000 meals for Monmouth and Ocean county families, according to FoodBank officials.

Chris Jordan: 732-643-4060; cjordan@app.com