RED BANK – Lunch Break is having a party at The Downtown from 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, to kick off its Oct. 20 fundraising gala, and to celebrate more than 31 years of dedicated service to the community.
The evening will feature the Docs of Rock, founded by Larry Sykoff, Ed.D. The band features Scott Woska, M.D., an interventional pain management specialist, on keyboard; Kristin Scott, D.V.M., a veterinarian, as a vocalist; Ken Grossman, M.D., a dermatologist, on drums; David Lessing, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon, on bass; and Larry Sykoff, Ranney School headmaster emeritus and senior consultant, on guitar.
“The Docs of Rock are committed to seeing that those who are less fortunate have access to food and basic social services,” Sykoff said. “Lunch Break is a champion of such support, and we applaud their commitment and dedication to help those in need.”
There is a suggested, though not required, $20 donation per person at the kickoff party. There will be a live auction for a table for 10 with premium seating at Lunch Break’s Monday, Oct. 20 gala, and there will be a 50/50 raffle at $30 per ticket to raise funds for Lunch Break. The winner of the raffle, who need not be present, will be announced at the gala. The Downtown is located at 10 W. Front St.
The event will support the work of Lunch Break.
“Many people think Lunch Break is just a soup kitchen, but we are so much more,” said Executive Director Gwen Love.
In 2013, the organization served almost 62,000 hot meals, its food pantry distributed emergency groceries more than 10,000 times, and operated a homebound delivery service for members of the community who are ill or disabled.
Lunch Break runs a regular clothing distribution program and a special Suited for Success program through which members of the community, who are interviewing for jobs, entering the workforce or attending formal occasions, are outfitted, head to toe.
Lunch Break also hosts social-service providers on site to connect its clients with a range of health and social-service resources. It has a school backpack program that distributes school supplies; a Community Gardener’s Market that distributes free community-donated produce; a Lunch Break Job Board and an Internet Cafe where guests can research jobs, write resumes and check their email. There are cooking classes for children, dinner nights for the community at large, monthly dinner and movie nights for the Boys & Girls Club and a toy distribution program during the holidays.
Lunch Break is an integral part of local disaster relief efforts. All of this, and more, is provided to the in-need community members free of charge.
To learn more about Lunch Break, its activities and events, visit 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.
