Causes: Food, Soup Kitchens

Mission: Lunch break freely provides life's basic necessities - food,clothing and fellowship for our community members in need. Our mission is to alleviate hunger and lead those we serve to self-sufficiency and healthier lifestyles. We serve everyone, with compassion and dignity.

Programs: Hot meals & culinary artsall of our programs are provided free of charge to whoever is in need throughout monmouth county. Our soup kitchen served over 75,318 meals in 2017. We provide a very nice cold breakfast daily, and a nutritious, hot, 5 course lunch is offered monday to friday. On saturdays, a hot breakfast is provided as well as 150 bag lunches for distribution. Every morning, 6 days a week, our volunteers deliver hot meals to local elderly, handicapped and homebound residents. In 2017, 3,106 meals were delivered. Community dinners are held every friday evening where all ages come together for food and fellowship. In 2017, 213 children graduated from our "look who's cooking" children's cooking class. A 4-week course, and under the guidance of a certified chef, students learn basic kitchen safety, measurements, and nutrition and prepare a meal for the next day in our soup kitchen. Every month, lunch break prepared 1,012 hot meals to displaced individuals living in the pan american hotel in eatontown. In addition to hot meals, clothing is also distributed. We host a christmas brunch and thanksgiving dinner where we serve over 400 meals. Our food for thought: male mentorship program connects local socio-economically disadvantaged local youth between the ages of 8 and 18 with community leaders through the art of culinary training.

client choice food pantryour client choice food pantry serves between 750-800 families every month. Clients browse and shop for food items they want and need based on their individual family size, health and nutrition needs. In 2017, over 10,000 low income households received food from our pantry.

other programs includeback to school backpack program. In 2017 provided 322 underprivileged children, from grades kindergarten through 12th grade, with backpacks and school supplies. The community gardener's market provides clients year round access to fresh fruits and vegetables grown by local gardeners and donated by local retailers. In 2017, we distributed fresh produce to over 312 individuals. Our "clara's closet" clothing closet collects and distributes new and gently used clothing to hundreds of families each year. In 2017, we distributed clothing to 42,945 individuals. Our suit up! Program, formerly known as suited for success, provides business and special occasion attire for the employed, underemployed, unemployed, high school college students seeking employment, as well as formal wear for special occasions, such as proms for all ages both male and female. In 2017, 509 employed unemployed and underemployed individuals were provided with business appropriate attire and special occasion outfits. Our holiday toy program distributed toys and gifts to 870 underprivileged children in 2017. There is an internet cafe where guests can search daily for employment, apply for jobs, research other needed local resources, keep in touch with loved ones and check email. There is a job board where employment opportunities are posted daily by local businesses, individuals, and partner agencies. A life skills program is being developed through a very collaborative process to assist in navigating our clients to obtaining the necessary tools for meaningful training opportunities and employment. Lunch break's social services network is a partnership with community organizations, resources, and public institutions whose goal is to ensure access to health and social services. Twice monthly, the vna of central jersey, veterans affairs, affordable housing alliance, legal aid and snap visit on-site at lunch break. Over 1,900 volunteers assist in the delivery of our mission throughout the year managed by 21 paid staff.