September is Hunger Action Month and it’s also the month in which Lunch Break, the Red Bank social service organization, food pantry and meal provider to the food insecure in Monmouth County and beyond, recognizes the work of its dedicated volunteers.
*Life Skills Coordinator Mary Ann LaSardo, Director of Operations Armida Caldwell, Director of Administration and Special Events Millie Jeter, Gina Vastola, Board Member Josephine Guttadauro, Development Associate Jill Govel-Gwydir.
Staff, Board members and volunteers gathered recently at the Channel Club in Monmouth Beach for Lunch Break’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Cocktail Party. The evening was graciously donated by George Chrysanthopoulos of the Beach Tavern and Channel Club in Monmouth Beach.
*Harriett Hinton, Board President John Klein, Steve Haugness, Board Member David Hinton and Mitch Berman
Lunch Break relies on its network of more than 2,000 volunteers who support the organization’s varied food and service programs. Among some of the ways Lunch Break has helped and continues to provide services for the food insecure:
- Soup Kitchen served 73,662 hot, nutritious, free meals in 2017.
- Client Choice pantry distributed 42,640 bags of groceries to 10,660 low-income households in 2017.
- Volunteers prepared and delivered 7,106 homebound meals to clients in Red Bank in 2017.
- Continental Breakfast is served five days a week from 8:30-10:30 a.m. in the dining room and is open to anyone. In 2017, we served 6,317 breakfast meals.
- In 2017, we served 6,720 breakfast meals on Saturdays sponsored by local houses of worship.
- Summer School Lunch Program in 2017 provided 1,500 meals to children attending summer school when free and reduced-price lunches were unavailable.
- We prepared and delivered 1,500 lunches to the World Changers volunteers for one week in July.
- Every week, 50 hot meals are delivered to a homeless community in Howell. In addition, non-perishable food items and supplies are delivered once a month.
- Every week in 2017, in collaboration with Tower Hill First Presbyterian Church, St. George’s-by-the- River Episcopal Church and Pilgrim Baptist Church more than 100 hot meals were delivered to displaced individuals living in the Pan-American Motel in Eatontown. In addition, clothing also was also provided.
- Mobile Community Garden Market in 2017 provided fresh, seasonal produce to 1,002 residents of senior housing facilities in Red Bank.
- More than 3,500 Community Dinners were served Friday evenings in 2017.
*Director of Administration and Special Events Millie Jeter, Director of Operations Armida Caldwell and Executive Director Gwendolyn Love
As a caring community, Lunch Break freely provides food, clothing, life skills and fellowship to those in need in Monmouth County and beyond. To donate or for more information: http://www.lunchbreak.org/. Follow Lunch Break on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. #whywebreak