About Us
Lunch Break History
In 1983, Norma Todd and the founding members of Lunch Break had a vision of a caring community — one in which its members are looked after, fed, and nurtured in soul and body. Working to alleviate hunger for underemployed people struggling to make ends meet, Lunch Break began offering individuals and families the assistance they needed for today, with the hope for a better tomorrow. Since then, we have evolved into much more than a place for a hot lunch and a food pantry, improving on Lunch Break’s legacy.
Decades later, Lunch Break continues to provide life’s basic necessities of food, clothing, life skills and fellowship to the financially insecure individuals and families in Monmouth County and beyond. Over the years, through the support of individual donors, foundations, the corporate and business communities and a network of more than 2,000 volunteers, we have expanded our feeding, clothing, outreach, mentoring, and social service programs. We offer hope through our Life Skills Program, a job readiness initiative that helps clients gain the skills and tools necessary for self-sustainability.
It is because of YOUR generous donations, we have been able to help our neighbors who experience poverty, hunger and isolation. restoring their dignity. Thank you for being our partner in community building.
Giving local, stays local, helps locals. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. #whywebreak #givelocal
Mission Statement
Mission:
As a caring community, Lunch Break freely provides food, clothing, life skills and fellowship to those in need in Monmouth County and beyond.
Vision:
A world where every human being has a healthy meal, a warm home, an open heart, and the resources to achieve one’s unique potential.
Values:
We serve everyone with compassion and dignity.
Our Programs Serve:
Everyone, regardless of age, with some programs targeted to specific groups. Our pillar services such as food, clothing and life skills are essential basic human rights afforded to anyone seeking such assistance.
We Operate in the Geographic Areas:
Primary service area is Monmouth & Ocean Counties, with some programs crossing county lines. Individuals from any region are never turned away for basics such as pantry staples, hot meals, and clothing.
Our Programs Include:
Family Promise | Soup Kitchen | Client Choice Food Pantry | Back to School Backpacks Kid’s Cooking Class | Community Wellness Fair | Women’s Worth MentoringHoliday Toy Program | Senior Luncheon and Fashion Show | Homebound Gift Giving Community Health and Social Services Partnership Series | Clothing/Suit Up | Life Skills Prescription Assistance | Alliance for Success | Nutrition Program | Application Administrator for Bloom Again, ERAP, Vision Service Provider | Referrals
We Are Sustained by Funding from:
Individuals | Faith-Based Organizations | Businesses | Civic Organizations | Government Foundations/Trusts | Corporate Foundations | Educational Institutions | Grants
WE COULDN’T DO… WHAT WE DO… WITHOUT YOU!
“Your kindness may seem simple to you, but it means everything to me.” Jane- Lunch Break Guest
Staff
Gwendolyn Love
Executive Director
glove@lunchbreak.org
Milagros (Millie) Jeter
Director of Administration
mjeter@lunchbreak.org
Adam Smith
Director Of Culinary Operations
asmith@lunchbreak.org
Kevin McGee
Director of Operations
kmcgee@lunchbreak.org
Jill Gwydir-Govel
Director of Development
jgwydir@lunchbreak.org
Board of Trustees
Juanita Lewis
President
Robin Klein
Vice President
Steven Haugenes
Treasurer
Michael Bagnell
Secretary
Rick Brodsky
Kevin Chieff
Alyce Franklin
Eric Gatti
Christina Jordan
Andrew Kirkpatrick
Abe Littenberg
“B” Carr Mahon
Brian McEvily
Mychal Mills
J.P. Nicolaides
Carol A. Penn, D.O.
Tina Pflaster
Rebecca Reilly
Stephen Reinhard
Daiana Rios
Jessica Stepanski
Tracey Stewart
Joe Wajda
Michael A. Wright
Mark Zill
Gwendolyn O. Love
Executive Director
ADVISORY COUNCIL:
Michael Wright, Chair
Mark Brahney, Co-Chair
Christopher T. Brett
Mary Burke
Memone Crystian
Warren Diamond
Dyese Davis
Bonnie Featherstone-Johnson
Itzel Hernandez
Paul Hooker
Nancy Karpf
Mimi Keenan
John Klein
Joseph Kyrillos
Maureen Lloyd
Jackeline Mejias-Fuertes
Ann Mohamadi
Trudy Parton
Mark Rothenberg
Carol Stillwell
Karen Steinberg
Alan Swersky
Adam Szaniszlo
Celestine Woods