Holiday Meals For 1,000+ Is The Goal Of Lunch Break In Red Bank

RED BANK, NJ — It’s the official launch of this year's Adopt-A-Family Program, and Lunch Break, the food pantry and social service agency, needs the community's help in providing holiday meals for families stretched for food and finances.

This year’s goal is to sponsor more than 1,000 families, Lunch Break leaders say. The donation period is from Nov. 1 to Nov. 20, and Lunch Break is providing lots of guidance on just how to donate. (Read more details below.)

“As we emerge from years of struggling with the devastating economic realities of the pandemic, our financially insecure families are weary and stressed from having to choose between bills, rents or mortgages and food," says Lunch Break Executive Director Gwendolyn Love.

"We see more new faces every day, many who are without homes, seeking relief and opportunities for self-reliance through our food and financial services and Life Skills and housing programs,” she said.

Since March 2020, the start of the COVID pandemic, Lunch Break has seen steady increases in the number of people requiring direct assistance to put food on the table. Grocery pickups and numbers of meals distributed have "risen exponentially since 2019 and continue to climb," the agency says.

As of January 2023, Lunch Break, 121 Drs. James Parker Blvd., has served more than 62,000 meals and has seen more than 11,000 grocery pickups to date, the agency says.

While meeting increasing demand remains a constant juggling effort, Love is mindful of the community’s unwavering support.

“We could not continue our mission to break the cycle of hunger and poverty without help from our dedicated volunteers, staff, Board members and, of course, the generosity of our community.”

The organization’s solution to ensure families enjoy a traditional and meaningful Thanksgiving and holiday season took shape in 2020 as the Adopt-A-Family Holiday Meal Program.

That created the Drive-By Food Donation Drop-Off at its warehouse location at 968 Shrewsbury Ave, Door #5, Tinton Falls.

Those wishing to donate this year can simply drive up to that same collection point and release their car’s trunk or hatch door. Lunch Break volunteers will remove the items and take the donor’s information if a receipt is needed.

To sponsor a family or families this season, Lunch Break is requesting reusable tote bags filled with non-perishable holiday meal items including canned green beans, stuffing, yams, instant mashed potatoes, gravy, canned corn, muffin mix, cake mix and prepared frosting. And check out the flyer to see how Super Foodtown in Red Bank can help you with their pre-packed bags.

Bags will be accepted from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, from Nov. 1 to 20.

Visit www.lunchbreak.org for sponsorship information. You can direct inquiries to sponsorafamily@lunchbreak.org.

Lunch Break is a nonprofit organization that provides food, clothing, life skills, and fellowship to residents of greater Monmouth County. All Lunch Break services are free.