School Supplies Drive Is Underway For Lunch Break In Red Bank

RED BANK, NJ — Lunch Break will host its annual Community Picnic & Backpack Giveaway on Aug. 20 at Count Basie Field in Red Bank, and is seeking donations of school supplies for the event.

To prepare for the giveaway of much-needed school supplies to community children, the resource center is having its annual Back to School Drive now through Aug. 20, the organization said in a news release.

“We are grateful to our generous community for helping us to prepare our children for a successful school year. Every child, no matter his or her financial situation, deserves a chance to succeed. These necessary supplies are among the ways we can motivate our youth to engage in the learning experience,” said Lunch Break Executive Director Gwendolyn Love.

Each year during the annual community picnic, more than 600 backpacks containing school supplies are distributed to families without the financial means to adequately prepare their children for the upcoming school term, according to the news release.

This year’s picnic will take place from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 20 and will feature healthy nutritional picnic fare, sponsored by Lunch Break, Eat Clean Bro and other community partners, in accordance with Lunch Break’s nutrition initiative Healthy Together, the news release said.

There will also be games for all ages, and the annual softball championship, all free of charge to community members.

Those who would like to donate backpacks and school supplies, including pens and pencils, loose leaf binders and paper, erasers, pencil cases, highlighters, among other traditional items, may do so from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays to Fridays at Family Promise of Monmouth County, 501 Malterer Ave., Oceanport.

For more information, contact Youth Director Marcel Quinones, mquinones@lunchbreak.org, (732) 747-8577, Ext. 3011.

Lunch Break is a registered nonprofit, providing food, clothing, social services, fellowship and life skills to those struggling with financial insecurity as a path to well-being and self-sufficiency.