Joy Bus Diner: Phoenix nonprofit opens restaurant to support patients battling cancer

PHOENIX — In Arizona, cancer is one of the leading causes of death, according to Arizona’s Department of Health Services. However, with continued medical advancements and non-profit organizations that are advocating for those battling cancer, the survival rates are starting to increase.

Away from the doctors and hospitals, just east of the State Route 51 along Shea Boulevard, is a Valley not-for-profit organization called the Joy Bus Diner, which delivers breakfast and lunch, from scratch, to homebound Valley cancer patients.

Jennifer Caraway started The Joy Bus organization five years ago as a free meal delivery program for homebound cancer patients and the Joy Bus Diner opened just over four months ago, in July.

Both the Joy Bus Diner and Joy Bus Organization were opened in memory of Caraway’s dear friend Joy, who passed away due to complications brought on by ovarian cancer.

The Joy Bus Diner helps support the Joy Bus Organization and all proceeds from meals sold in the diner go towards the Joy Bus’s foundation for free meal deliveries to those battling cancer. Even more, over half of the Joy Bus Diner’s employees are volunteers from the hostess, servers, delivery drivers and line cooks.

Additionally, the Joy Bus Diner has all of their produce donated from local purveyors around the valley such as Crooked Sky Farms in Phoenix.

Every week, the Joy Bus organization and its volunteers deliver healthy and homemade meals to over 50 families with homebound cancer patients within a 15-mile radius. Caraway says that often times the Joy Bus volunteers will form relationships with the cancer patients and sit with them and talk for a while after delivering their meals.

Caraway says that in the future she hopes that they can continue to expand in Arizona to deliver homemade, fresh meals to cancer patients all over the Valley.

The Joy Bus Diner (3375 E. Shea Blvd) is open every Tuesday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. They serve a wide array of both breakfast and lunch dishes, such as, eggs, waffles, pancakes, chilaquiles, sandwiches and much more.

For more information about the Joy Bus Diner visit them online.