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
1983
Principal Officer
Mrs. Gwendolyn Love
Main address
PO Box 2215
Red Bank, NJ 07701 USA
EIN
22-2440028
NTEE code
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
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
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.
Client's Choice Food Pantry
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.
Life Skills Center
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.
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
External reviews
Photos
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
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.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
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.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
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.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
We serve all population groups, all ages, races and religions without discrimination
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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),
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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,
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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
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- 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 directorsas of 3/5/2021
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
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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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
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
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 03/05/2021Policies and practices developed in partnership with Equity in the Center, a project that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems within the social sector to increase racial equity. Learn more
- 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.
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