Basie Center Seeks Donations For Food & Wellness Drive

RED BANK, NJ — The Count Basie Center for the Arts is seeking donations for a Food & Wellness drive to support the local nonprofit, Lunch Break.

Now through Nov. 13, patrons attending a performance or class at the Basie Center are asked to bring an item for the drive from the list below.

The drive will assist Lunch Break in its mission to freely provide food, clothing, housing solutions, life skills and fellowship to those in need in Monmouth County and beyond.

"Lunch Break isn’t just a food pantry — it’s an organization that assists with just about every need in the community, from its annual back-to-school backpack and holiday toys programs, meals for the homebound, a space called Clara’s Closet where guests can browse and pick out clothes at no cost and more," officials said.

Items you can bring to assist in the Food & Wellness drive include:

FOOD

• Shelf-stable almond or oat milk (Unflavored/unsweetened)
• Oatmeal packets
• Cereal
• Apple Sauce
• Canned Fruit
• Dry/Canned Beans: black, kidney, baked, cannellini, pinto
• Canned Soup: chicken, vegetable, tomato
• Canned Meals: spaghetti, ravioli, chili
• Canned Chicken
• Canned Tuna
• Pasta (any shape, not spaghetti)
• Canned Corn, Peas & Carrots
• Peanut Butter

Whenever possible, the Basie asks donors to select low-sodium and low-sugar items when choosing non-perishable food donations.

PERSONAL CARE

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Deodorant
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrushes
• Body Wash

BABY ITEMS

• Diapers (Sizes 1- 6)
• Baby Wipes

For more information on items you can donate to Lunch Break, or to learn how to sponsor a family for the holidays, hold your own food drive and more, you can click here.