A Day Of Backpacks & Softball At Lunch Break Picnic In Red Bank

RED BANK, NJ — Lunch Break's annual community picnic and backpack giveaway at Count Basie Field was a lively kickoff to the new school year.

There was delicious (and healthy) food, games and crafts for kids, along with the giveaway of 600 backpacks, lots of sneakers and school supplies.

Plus there was some sporting competition at the Softball Classic Tournament, with Morgan Stanley victorious.

And there were health screenings and yoga practice and bicycle raffles.

The free annual picnic was Aug. 19 and brought community members together to celebrate summer, while highlighting Lunch Break's social service programs, organizers said.

Let's start with the softball game: In a game-changing moment, Morgan Stanley beat 2022 champion New Jersey Natural Gas for the coveted Lunch Break tournament trophy.

The Red Bank firm was the overall victor in the 2023 Community Picnic Softball Classic lineup including teams from HABcore, Manasquan Bank, Lunch Break, Defined Logic, iCIMS, and Business Solutions.

Mike Ayers and James Plummer were umpires for the series and Red Bank Mayor Billy Portman pitched in to round out one of the softball teams.

Then there was the picnic:

“Everyone is always a winner at the Lunch Break annual Community Picnic, especially our community members in need,” said Director of Administration Millie Jeter and A Team leader, along with co-chair Administrative Assistant Gina Vastola.

“We couldn’t have done it without the tremendous effort from volunteers, staff and the support of our donors, local businesses and corporations, who helped to bring smiles to the faces of our families,” she said.

Attendees were treated to more than 750 healthy meals provided by sweetgreen and the Windmill, snow cones, fun and games, including a fun bus, crafts, yoga, toy and gift raffle and bicycle, scooter and sneaker giveaway - 250 pairs from Parker Family Health Center.

Then there were the many nonprofits represented and healthcare vendors, including the Affordable Housing Alliance; Riverview Medical Center; Parker Family Health Center; American Friends Service Committee; Concerned Black Nurses of Central NJ; Em-Power Me of Monmouth County; Family Planning Center of Monmouth Medical Center; NJ Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; NJ Department of Human Services; Sen. Vin Gopal; Pilgrim Baptist Church, Red Bank; Red Bank Family YMCA; Red Bank Public Library; Red Bank Resource Network/Mental Health America; Shore House; and United Healthcare Community Plan.

As part of Lunch Break’s nutrition and community wellness initiatives, vendors provided social services, preventive health-care and nutrition information, as well as health screening opportunities.

But as always the highlight of the afternoon was the Back to School Drive & Backpack Giveaway, in which nearly 600 children received school supplies and backpacks donated by community members, organizations, corporations and businesses.

“We are grateful for the continued commitment from our incredible board, volunteers and staff who, year after year, make this event a wonderful opportunity to be in community with the community,” said Jeter.

And Lunch Break gave special thanks to area corporations, businesses and individuals who supported this year’s event: LidoChem; Performance Nutrition; OceanFirst Bank; Corner Marketing; Stillwell-Hansen Inc.; iCIMS; Bank of America; Parker Family Health Center (the 250 pairs of sneakers); Elegant Mist; Walkin on Sunshine Party Rentals; Olipop; sweetgreen; Deborah Herr and the Shadow Lake Ladies; Robbin Thornton, Jerome Livingston and Millie Jeter, bicycle and scooter donations; Mike Ayers/Pilgrim Baptist Church; Gould Family, snow cone machine; STEAMPark, games and services; and Paul Hooker, T-shirts.

Now on to next year: For 2024 community picnic sponsorship opportunities contact Director of Administration Millie Jeter at 732-747-5788, ext. 3102, mjeter@lunchbreak.org.

Donations are always accepted at www.lunchbreak.org. The resource center provides food, clothing, housing solutions, social services, fellowship and life skills to those struggling with financial insecurity - all as a path to well-being and self-sufficiency.