By Caitlin McGarry

To some people, it’s intuitive – who doesn’t love a fun day at the park with family and friends? The Lunch Break Community Picnic provides a day and a place to leave your worries at the door, enjoying time with friends, loved ones and community.

Often we hear the question: Why does Lunch Break host a Community Picnic? What need is it serving? Is it necessary?

We sat down with Lunch Break staff members and Picnic Co-Chairs Millie Jeter and Gina Vastola to discuss the value of this treasured community gathering and here is what we learned.

How did the Lunch Break Community Picnic begin?

The event was held for years at Lunch Break, in the back lot as a simple event with food, music and fellowship. The backpack giveaway was a separate event. By the time Millie Jeter, Director of Administration and Picnic Co-Chair, got involved with coordinating the picnic in 2013, the event had outgrown the Lunch Break parking lot. It was decided to move the picnic to Count Basie Park, where it’s been hosted every year since (except for during the pandemic). In 2013 a backpack giveaway and wellness fair were added for community members in need.

Highlighting the Need

The 2024 Community Picnic saw an unprecedented turnout, drawing more than 1,000 attendees. Last year’s picnic served 1,200 meals and distributed 1,589 backpacks to students in need, with the demand for both services increasing over 50% since 2020.

Jeter said of the event’s expansion, “I’ve had the privilege of watching this event grow from 200 participants to over 1,000,” highlighting the growing need for services in recent years.

Honoring Red Bank First Responders

Every year, the Community Picnic team decides on a theme and a group or organization to honor. Last year’s theme was “Strong Families”, honoring a local family who participated in the Lunch Break Family Promise of Monmouth County program. This year, when deciding on a theme, the Red Bank First Responders (fire and police) were mentioned as a continued support and resource for Lunch Break over 42 years. We want them to know and feel the love and appreciation from Lunch Break and our surrounding community. We hope that by involving them in this event, we can “…help to foster trust between the community and first responders,” said Vastola, sending a message to first responders and community members alike that we are all allies for our community in need. Red Bank Police and Fire Departments will attend the event acting as grill masters and offering giveaways for kids, fire safety instruction, and friendly, open conversation to members of the community.

Why is this an important event for the community?

At Lunch Break we believe that everyone deserves a chance to survive, AND thrive. This is the heart of the Community Picnic. One event where parents and their children enjoy a meal, play games, learn about local support services, get free books and pick a backpack and supplies for school.

An increasing number of community members are struggling, not knowing where their next meal is coming from or where they’re going to sleep any given night. That kind of stress directly impacts physical and mental health on a daily basis.

Millie Jeter reflected on the value and impact of this event, stating “It’s truly a blessing to witness the joy and excitement in the faces of everyone, whether they’re enjoying snow cones, receiving backpacks, eating or simply jumping around with carefree smiles. Being part of an organization that can provide this sense of tranquility and togetherness for our community is something I’m incredibly grateful for.”

Beyond what the Community Picnic does for our neighbors in need, this event brings an entire community of nonprofits, government agencies and individuals together pooling their time, energy and resources into creating a day and a space where those who need it, can just kick back and enjoy. Over 300 volunteers, staff members, board members, advisory council members and anyone willing to lend a helping hand make this event possible. The Wellness Fair features local nonprofits, government agencies and other social supports sharing resources. The Softball Tournament creates a space for building camaraderie amongst team members and engaging local business partners, including New Jersey Natural Gas, HABCore and Morgan Stanley for many years now, as well as inciting a bit of friendly competition that is sure to keep things interesting!

Getting Back-To-School Ready

15 million children don’t have money for school supplies. When asked how important the Back-To-School program is, Vastola didn’t hesitate. “Crucial. It’s oneless thing for parents to have to worry about buying, as prices on everything are rising”. It’s true, some might wonder “What good is donating notebooks when kids might not have food?” All children attend school and not all materials are not supplied. Children are often sent home with long lists of school supplies for each class that they are expected to purchase, bring to class and replace as needed. Families struggling to put food on the table cannot afford these extra expenses. That’s where Lunch Break comes in; and with the wide array of backpack donations we receive from our incredible community of donors, we’re able to provide the beauty of choice, which is so often lacking for those who can’t afford all of the options that those of us who can often take for granted. Vastola added, “Kids get really excited when they see the variety of backpacks and they get to choose.”

Looking to help?

We always take monetary donations or donations of food, clothing and hygiene products. For this event, we have some special requests. Click here to view what we need!

Joy is Sacred

We strive to foster joy in everything we do here at Lunch Break, on a daily basis and through special events like the picnic, holiday celebrations and giveaways or our weekly health and wellness classes that get members of the community, staff and volunteers, moving and having fun together. Fun can seem trivial to those who have what they need. But fun is important because life can’t just be about surviving. Everyone deserves new experiences and it’s those special memories created that bring us closer with our community.

We are so excited for this year’s picnic and to enjoy being together in community with everyone!

All are welcome!