About Us

Lunch Break History

Norma ToddIn 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

DONATE NOW!

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

Renovation and Relocation Update