Donate Food

Donate Food

Lunch Break currently serves over 5,000 meals a month, including a hot breakfast on Saturdays. We also distribute over 3,600 bags of groceries monthly to a number of well deserving families throughout Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Given the amount of food we serve and distribute, we need a steady supply of food coming in.

You can help us continue to feed the hungry in our community by:

  • Donating non-perishable food items to our food pantry. Our most pressing and ongoing challenge is keeping our pantry shelves stocked.
  • Donating fresh garden produce. We welcome your fresh garden herbs, fruits, and vegetables.
  • Donating commercially prepared foods.
  • Organizing a food drive? To learn how to organize a food drive, please contact Deborah Herr at dherr@lunchbreak.org

Food Donation Hours:

Donations are accepted Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and Saturdays 10:00am to 12:00pm at 121 Drs. James Parker Boulevard in Red Bank.

Please DO NOT leave items outside of our doors or gates.

Currently, we are accepting food and monetary donations only.

Below is a list of common, everyday items that are always in high demand at Lunch Break’s food bank. Donating even the most basic of items can make the biggest of differences.

Food Pantry – Items Most Needed

  • Peanut butter and jelly
  • Canned fruits (no or low sugar) 
  • Canned vegetables (low sodium) 
  • Canned soups (low sodium)
  • Canned chili, stews
  • Canned meats and fish (chicken, tuna, salmon)
  • Canned beans (black, kidney, pinto)
  • Dry beans and lentils (black, kidney, great northern, garbanzo)
  • Shelf stable milk
  • Shelf stable almond milk (unflavored)
  • Brown rice
  • Cereal
  • Oatmeal
  • Spaghetti sauce
  • Pasta, macaroni and cheese
  • Instant potatoes, mashed potatoes
  • Rice mixes
  • Condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, syrup, salt, pepper, salad dressings)
  • Spices (garlic powder, lemon pepper, basil, oregano, etc.)
  • Cooking oil (olive, vegetable, avocado)
  • Individual portions of low sugar applesauce, pudding, snacks, juices, etc.
  • Bottled water
  • Coffee, tea, juices (low sugar)
  • Gluten free foods
  • Foods for our diabetics

    If you have any questions about making a food donation, please contact our Pantry Supervisor, Beth Sherrard at 732-747-8577, ext. 3109 or bsherrard@lunchbreak.org

    Sponsor A Family for the Holidays

    Please make the holidays special for our families in need through Lunch Break’s Sponsor A Family Holiday Program.

    Please direct inquiries to sponsorafamily@lunchbreak.org.