LUNCH BREAK

Help for Today. Hope for Tomorrow

Red Bank, NJ   |  www.lunchbreak.org

Mission

As a caring community, Lunch Break freely provides food, clothing, life skills, and fellowship to those in need in Monmouth County and beyond. We strive to break the cycle of poverty for those we serve and guide our community members in need to self-sufficiency and healthier, more productive lifestyles. We serve everyone with compassion and diginity.

Ruling year info

1983

Principal Officer

Mrs. Gwendolyn Love

Main address

PO Box 2215

Red Bank, NJ 07701 USA

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EIN

22-2440028

NTEE code info

Food Service, Free Food Distribution Programs (K30)

Human Services - Multipurpose and Other N.E.C. (P99)

Disaster Preparedness and Relief Services (M20)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

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Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Hot Meals

Our dining room is the heart of Lunch Break where meals are served and fellowship is the norm. It's a warm environment, all are welcome and no one is turned away. The kitchen provides meals in house and also sends meals to various locations. In 2020, we served over 88,000 meals that consisted of continental breakfasts and hot lunches Monday - Friday, hot breakfast and bagged lunches provided by several local congregations on Saturdays, homebound meals delivered by volunteers, 6 days a week; and special holiday meals on Thanskgiving, Christmas and Easter. We also provide hot food weekly to families that are in transient housing with the support of various churches. Summer lunches are provided to a local school for the summer program and we also provide meals for the local Boys and Girls Club.

Population(s) Served
Age groups
Economically disadvantaged people

The Client Choice Pantry is set up to allow pantry clients the opportunity to “shop” for their family by accessing the groceries and toiletries themselves while being accompanied with a volunteer. Our clients love having this option as opposed to pre-bagged groceries. It allows them to choose items based on dietary restrictions and preferences, reducing waste and promoting good health. Groceries consist of non-perishables, a wide selection of produce, meats, dairy, breads, deserts and toiletries. We provide special bags for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. We purchase foods from various vendors including the local food pantry, we also receive the state and federal allocations from the local food pantry. The client choice pantry is in line with our mission of serving everyone with compassion and dignity.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Children and youth
Economically disadvantaged people

The role of the Life Skills Program is to provide the appropriate and relevant training which will allow our participants to acquire and maintain meaningful employment while improving future career prospects. The programs partners with local businesses to identify and fill appropriate job opportunities that will benefit both participant and employer. To achieve these goals, program participants are paired with a volunteer "coach" who helps the participant to overcome any need relevant to gaining self-sufficiency, including addressing any financial insecurity or credit issues, homelessness, childcare, educational challenge, among others. The programs offers many training classes such as ESL, tutoring, computer skills, resume writing and provides assistance with filling out applications for employment, housing, financial aid, etc. In this way, the participant becomes whole so that when he or she finds gainful employment, she/he is in a position to maintain it and not only succeed, but thrive.

Population(s) Served
Age groups
Economically disadvantaged people
Age groups
Economically disadvantaged people

Where we work

Awards

Spinnaker Award 2012

Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce (EMACC)

Flag awarded for our service during the recovery from Hurricane Sandy 2013

NJ State Government

Outstanding Community Service 2013

HabCore

Jersey Strong Resiliency Award 2013

The New Jersey Chapter of the National Black MBA Associations

recognition of outstanding achievement in the employment of older workers 2014

American Legion Certificate

Merit Finalist 2015

Mutual of America 2015 Community Partnership Award

Gwendolyn Love, Executive, 2016 Recipient, “Making a Difference” 2016

PNC Wealth Management and Foss, San Filippo & Milne, LLC Counsellors at Law

Recognition Certificate, proclaimation that April 18, 2016 to be known as “Lunch Break Day.” 2016

Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders

Community Service Partnership Award 2016

Monmouth County Workforce Development Board

Martin Luther King Jr. Human Dignity Award presented to Gwendolyn Love, Executive Director 2021

YMCA of Greater Monmouth County

Affiliations & memberships

Association of Fundraising Professionals - Member

Board Source 2014

Better Business Bureau

Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce 2010

Asbury Park 2015

Greater Ocean Township Chamber of Commerce 2015

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

As a caring community service agency, Lunch Break's goal is to break the cycle of poverty for those we serve and guide our community members in need to self-sufficiency and healthier, more productive lifestyles. By providing a hand up through our food security services and our self-sufficiency programs, we empower our neighbors in need with the resources to help them not only succeed but thrive. In addition to the fellowship, compassion and empathy that draws our clients in, they have access to so many personal development programs which offer a path to financial security and new opportunities for a brighter future. These include our Life Skills Center, mentoring programs, Suit Up, cooking classes, as well as access to a solid network of non-profits for ancillary services. Once regarded as soley a soup kitchen, Lunch Break now offers a comprehensive, holistic approach to regaining one's life with dignity and hope.

Our strategy is to fill in the gaps, while empowering those in need to and providing the basic needs: food and clothing, while simultaneously strengthening our community base of non-profits and business connections. By continuing to stretch and strengthen our network, we increase our ability to provide the knowledge of and access to local resources for our clients.

Our leadership, board of trustees and advisory council take a daily, ongoing interest in all aspects of the organization overseeing and participating in many of our programs and services, donor cultivation and engagement, fiscal management oversight all ensure that we continue to provide programs and services adequately, efficiently and professionally. With the support of a dedicated and trained staff, together with the support of over 2,000 volunteers, we are able, every day, to provide our neighbors in need Help for Today and Hope for Tomorrow.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    We serve all population groups, all ages, races and religions without discrimination

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Paper surveys, Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person),

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals,

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    Our Life Skills program participants faced obstacles to attending our ESL classes because of daycare and trasportation. The pandemic showed that zoom ESL can be successful. Moving forward we will offer a hybrid ESL approach based on the feedback we received

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

Financials

LUNCH BREAK
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

LUNCH BREAK

Board of directors
as of 3/5/2021
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Mr. Philip Antoon

Alvarez & Marsal

Term: 2020 - 2023

Mimi Keenan

Steven Haugenes

Direct Energy

Nancy Karpf

DavidsonKempner

Michael Bagnell

Rick Brodsky

Ansell Grimm & Aaron

Kevin Chieff

Cloud Skills LLC

George Chrysanthopoulos

Beach Tavern

Christopher Cole

Cole GP

Maura Creekmore

BNY Mellon/Pershing

Eric Gatti

G William Group LLC

Josephine Guttadauro

David Hinton

Robin Klein

Fashing Retail Group Inc.

Juanita Lewis

She, Her, Hers

Brian McEvily

JP Morgan

Trudy Parton

Carol Penn

Center for Mind Body Medicine

Tina Pflaster

Arnold Steel

Stephen Reinhard

Goldman Sachs

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 3/5/2021,

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Black/African American/African
Gender identity
Female
Sexual orientation
Decline to state
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

No data

Gender identity

No data

 

No data

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 03/05/2021

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.