Lunch Break

HELP US RAISE $6,000 OR MORE TO QUALIFY FOR A GRANT OF $25,000!

Mission:

As a caring community, Lunch Break freely provides food, clothing, life skills training and fellowship to those in need in the greater Monmouth County area and beyond.

Vision:

We strive to break the cycle of poverty for those we serve and guide our community members in need to self-sufficiency and healthier, more productive lifestyles.

Values:

We serve everyone with compassion and dignity.

We Won’t Miss a Meal!

The pandemic is waning but inflation has become a larger burden than ever. Cars continue to drive up to our free food distribution pantry and individuals of all ages come to our dining room daily for a nutritious hot meal and companionship from people who care.

• Since January 2022, the pantry has recorded 10,768 food pickups, a 12.9 percent increase year-to-date 2021. The Soup Kitchen has served 47,291 meals, a 12.3 percent increase year-to-date 2021. 
• In 2021, we served 89,351 meals and the pantry recorded 19,412 food pickups. 
• 2019 by comparison, had 72,273 hot meals served and 10,283 food pickups recorded.
• As COVID relief programs expire, inflation is now hitting our food and financially insecure clients especially hard.

Our primary food programs are hot meals and grocery distributions. Grocery distributions allow our clients to receive eggs, milk, meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as personal care and baby care products. At holiday time, we prepare special grocery bags including a turkey with all the fixings. For those who cannot come to Lunch Break, our volunteers deliver groceries to the homebound and at-risk communities six days a week, including holidays.

Starting in August of 2022, we are implementing an improved nutrition policy for the health of our clients. This policy aims to remove the processed meats and unhealthy food typically associated with soup kitchens, which will help to lead our clients to lower blood-pressure, lower rates of diabetes and cancer, while still being delicious and freshly made. 

We’re More Than a Meal!

  We mean it when we say: Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow. Our goal is to help our clients become self-sufficient and provide for themselves and their families. We are constantly innovating and adapting our programs to the needs we see in our communities:

• The Lunch Break Life Skills Center offers ESL classes, financial training sessions, and employment opportunities
• Family Promise provides temporary homelessness relief to families during a three-month program
• Alliance For Success provides rising high school juniors and seniors with mentorship, tutorship, coaching from volunteers, and internships at local businesses
• Clara’s Closet and the Suit Up Program distribute clothing and business attire
• Back-to-School Backpacks ensures that kids have the required supplies they need
• The Womyn’s Worth Female Mentorship Program focuses on improving health, nutrition awareness, and wellness through speakers, discussions, and workshops
• Kids’ Cooking Classes prepare the next generation to eat and live a healthy life
• The Holiday Toy Program helps ensure that all our kids feel the spirit of kindness

 All Of Our Services Are Free

Your donation can keep all these essential programs in place. Each $4 you donate allows us to cook and serve a full meal in our dining room. Each $50 we raise fills a grocery bag (or two) for our local families.

During this time-limited campaign, your donation of any amount will help move us closer to qualifying for a generous grant from A Community Thrives. Help put the brakes on poverty in your community!

Our Back to School event in August 2021 gave away more than 1,300 backpacks. 

Christina was given a used car courtesy of Sansone Auto to expedite her cleaning business.

Grab-and-go meals distributed during the pandemic.

Not the white beard we imagined, but safety comes first!

 

 

 

The donation of this used car will help with transportation challenges.

 

New toys!

 

A volunteer teaches a Life Skills participant computer technology.