Norma Todd Legacy: Red Bank Humanitarian Topic Of Program

FREEHOLD, NJ — The life and legacy of humanitarian Norma Todd will be explored in a Monmouth Vicinage Black History Month virtual presentation next week.

The hour-long program is on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 12:30 p.m.

It will spotlight Todd, remembered especially in Red Bank as a co-founder in 1983 of Lunch Break, which has since grown into a force for social services and community caring in the Red Bank area and beyond.

Born and raised in Monmouth County, Todd traveled the world with her husband, James, a foreign service officer in the U.S. Department of State. you can learn more about her life on the Lunch Break website here.

In addition to her work in the Monmouth County area, she is credited with many humanitarian acts while abroad, including helping establish schools and orphanages, providing instruction on disease control, and co-creating programs to teach English. She also worked extensively with the Girl Scout/Girl Guide movement.

The panel includes Lunch Break board trustee Dr. Carol Penn, a physician who is a family medicine specialist and lifelong friend of the Todd family; and Gwendolyn Love, executive director of Lunch Break.

In 1983, Todd co-founded Lunch Break in Red Bank, a nonprofit organization that provides food, clothing, and life skills for financially insecure individuals and families in Monmouth County and the surrounding area. Todd served as its executive director for 25 years before her death in 2008 at the age of 87.

Monmouth County Assignment Judge Marc C. Lemieux will give welcome remarks. Superior Court Judge Lourdes Lucas will introduce panel members.

The virtual event is free and open to the public. A link is available at: https://njcourts.zoomgov.com/j/1605276854.

For more information, to request an ADA accommodation, or for interpreting services, contact Monmouth Vicinage EEO/AA Officer Paulyn Holandez at 732-358-8700, ext. 87682 or paulyn.holandez@njcourts.gov.

The program is sponsored by the Monmouth Vicinage EEO/AA Advisory Committee and the Advisory Committee on Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement.