Lunch Break Relocates Some Red Bank Services During Construction

RED BANK, NJ — Beginning Friday, Lunch Break will temporarily relocate meal service, pantry and clothing operations to nearby facilities during the expansion of its headquarters, the center announced.

The food and social services resource center in Red Bank is undergoing a $12 million expansion of its headquarters at 121 Drs. James Parker Blvd. Construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023, according to a news release from the center.

Community members seeking breakfast and lunch service will be directed to St. Anthony of Padua Parish Center, 16 Herbert St., Red Bank, beginning Friday, Nov. 4.

The dining room will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday to Friday, with breakfast served from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for walk-ins only. Grab-and-go service will be available.

Traditional Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas brunch will be served at St. Anthony’s. Friday Community Dinner and Saturday breakfast will be temporarily suspended until 2023.

For updates please refer to lunchbreaknj on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, as well as our website www.lunchbreak.org.

“We appreciate the support from our community partner St. Anthony of Padua. We thank Father Al Tamayo and his staff for their help in facilitating the move for our meal service and Clara’s Closet,” said Executive Director Gwendolyn Love.

The Client Choice Pantry will relocate to the current Lunch Break dining room at 121 Drs. James Parker Blvd., Red Bank, returning to its former model of in-person, twice-monthly grocery shopping.

Clients are requested to check in at the front door. Pantry donations will be accepted at this location, from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.

The pantry will relocate its services beginning January 2023. Further notification will be posted to social media at lunchbreaknj and the center's website www.lunchbreak.org.

Clara’s Closet clothing boutique is relocating to St. Anthony of Padua Church. Monthly clothing giveaways will resume after the move. Updates will be posted to social media and www.lunchbreak.org. Clothing donations are temporarily suspended until further notice.

The Holiday Toy & Gift Card Program will not be affected by the relocations and will continue as in previous years. Updates for these services will be posted to www.lunchbreak.org and social media.

For Client Choice Pantry inquiries and/or to register for grocery services, please contact Pantry Supervisor Beth Sherrard, bsherrard@lunchbreak.org, 732-747-8577, ext. 3109.

For Clara’s Closet information or inquiries, please contact Resource Navigator Fatima Carranza, fcarranza@lunchbreak.org, (732) 747-8577, ext. 3016.

“We appreciate the community’s cooperation during our transition of critical resources to temporary locations while construction of our new center is under way. Lunch Break will continue to provide updates on social media and our website throughout construction, so that our neighbors will be reassured that all vital services will be available without interruption,” said Director of Operations Kevin McGee.

Since January 2022, Lunch Break has provided more than 72,000 dine-in and grab-and-go meals, a 12 percent increase year-to-date from 2021. The Client Choice pantry has recorded more than 16,000 food pickups, a 27 percent increase, the center said.