This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Lunch Break Invites You to a Party at The Downtown

COME TO A PARTY AT THE DOWNTOWN—HELP LUNCH BREAK FEED THE HUNGRY AND CELEBRATE THEIR 30TH BIRTHDAY

 

To kick off their October fundraising Gala, and to celebrate 30 years of dedicated service to the community, Lunch Break is having a party at the Downtown in Red Bank, September 18, from

Find out what's happening in Middletownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

6 to 8 p.m., and you’re invited. 

 

Find out what's happening in Middletownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bring your friends and join both the celebration and Lunch Break’s efforts to fight hunger on the home front.  The evening will include drink specials and live music featuring The Haven with special guest Susan Haugenes.  There is a $10 donation per person and a 50/50 raffle to raise funds for Lunch Break; the winner will be announced at the Gala on October 21.  The Downtown is located at 10 West Front Street in Red Bank (732-741-2828).

 

Lunch Break was founded in 1983 as the first Monmouth County soup kitchen and pantry by a group of concerned citizens who committed themselves to freely providing life’s basic necessities to community members in need, and currently is the largest and most accessible such facility.  Today, Executive Director Gwendolyn Love, her staff, and more than 2,000 volunteers continue that original commitment and so much more.

 

In 2012, 56,487 hot meals were served; 7,624 emergency food pantry distributions went to families; and there were 8,879 distributions of clothing, including outfits for job seekers preparing for interviews and new found jobs.  Lunch Break delivers daily meals to the homebound, has cooking classes for children, a summer Community Gardener’s Market, and a back-to-school distribution of backpacks and school supplies.  There is a monthly “Dinner and a Classic Movie” night for the Boys and Girls Club; Thanksgiving and Christmas meals; special Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas food baskets; both toy distributions and and a senior gift program during the holidays; and a monthly dinner night for the community.  Social service providers are hosted on site; there is an internet café for job searches; and following Super Storm Sandy, Lunch Break has become an integral part of local disaster relief efforts.

 

All this and more is free to Lunch Break guests and is accomplished with a small paid staff and the army of dedicated volunteers, and is supported through the generosity of residents and many organizations and businesses in the greater Red Bank area.

 

Join your friends at the pre-Gala party at the Downtown September 18, and mark your calendar for the October 21 Gala to be held at the Navesink County Club from 6 to 10 p.m.

 

To learn more about Lunch Break, its activities and events, go to www.lunchbreak.org.  Lunch Break can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter,  and can be reached at 732-747-8577 or info@lunchbreak.org.

 

 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?