Auburn's new Jersey Mike's Subs shop takes part in fundraiser with Acres of Hope

As a guy who doesn't shy away from any occasion to eat, when my boss called and told me he needed me to sit on a tasting panel for a charity fundraiser, I couldn't say yes fast enough. The opportunity to play Gordon Ramsay doesn't come around often, and one has to jump on it when it comes. Acres of Hope partnered with Auburn's brand new Jersey Mike's Subs location on Willow Creek Drive for a fundraiser to help women and children experiencing homelessness, trauma, addiction and poverty. The fundraiser started when Acres of Hope outreach coordinator Jackie Turner stopped in to check out the mouth-watering options Jersey Mike's has to offer. "I'm actually originally from New Jersey. So of course I want to experience a Philadelphia cheesesteak again so I came in, and actually the owner was so compassionate and giving. He came over and just wanted to meet every single person here," said Turner, who mentioned to the owner she worked with Acres of Hope. "It was my grand-opening weekend and Jackie walked in and I just loved her energy and her mission," said store owner Anthony Wells. "I love what she did, plus she ordered my two favorite sandwiches. The Italian is my all-time favorite. The Philly cheesesteaks are really good as well." Of course, we had to try both sandwiches to really know what they were talking about, and they did not disappoint. There is no Cheez Whiz on these cheesesteaks. It's all real meat, provolone and bell peppers that melt in your mouth. The Italian is everything you want in a cold sub. The meats and cheese provide an explosion of flavor in your mouth. If you order it "Mike's Way," they fix you up with the works: oil, vinegar, spices, lettuce and tomato to really enhance the sandwich. "If you come in here, you can get any type of Philadelphia cheesesteak, any type of Italian hoagie. There's a variety of different sandwiches, chips, cookies, salads. ... I mean this is a perfect time for you to come here and to have a good time," Turner says. "You just need to mention Hope15 and Jersey Mike's will donate 15 percent of the proceeds to Acres of Hope to help in the fight against homelessness." Acres of Hope boasts a 91-percent success rate of people never returning to homelessness after enrolling in their program. Acres of Hope provides women and children with things like affordable housing, education opportunities and financial advice so they can learn to budget. "We have people from all over the community that are volunteers, mentors that come in and teach them life lessons, whether it's a banker that comes in and teaches them about budgeting, a mentor that comes in to practice job interviews, everything they need," Turner said. The fundraiser runs through June 21 and is the first partnership between Acres of Hope and Jersey Mike's, but both parties hope it can become an annual event. "We love partnering with everyone we'd like to give back to the communities, Wells said. "And it'll do well for both people. We hope to do it again."