Retired Ranney School headmaster Dr. Lawrence Sykoff, Ed.D. — seen at right jamming with Tim McLoone and Holiday Express — leads his band, the Docs of Rock, to the Downtown for a fall fundraiser supporting Lunch Break of Red Bank.

Press release from Lunch Break of Red Bank

To kick off its October 20 fundraising Gala — and to celebrate more than 31 years of dedicated service to the community — Lunch Break is having a party at the Downtown, and everyone’s invited.

Scheduled for 7 to 10 pm on the evening of August 10, the event will feature live entertainment by the Docs of Rock, founded by Dr. Larry Sykoff, Ed.D. (Ranney School Headmaster Emeritus, Senior Consultant). Guitarist Sykoff is joined by keyboard player Scott Woska, M.D., (Interventional Pain Management); vocalist-veterinary dentist Kristin Scott, D.V.M.; drummer and dermatologist Ken Grossman, M.D., and bass player/ orthopedic surgeon David Lessing, M.D.

It’s a serious night of fun for Lunch Break, the borough-based nonprofit whose executive director Gwen Love said, “Many people think Lunch Break is just a soup kitchen, but we are so much more.”

Indeed, in 2013 they did serve almost 62,000 hot meals, their food pantry distributed emergency groceries more than 10,000 times, and they have a homebound delivery service for members of the community who are ill or disabled. Lunch Break runs a regular clothing distribution program and a special Suited for Success program where members of the community who are interviewing for jobs, entering the workforce, or attending formal occasions are outfitted, head to toe.  Lunch Break hosts social service providers on site to connect their clients with a range of health and social service resources.

They also have a school backpack program that distributes school supplies; a Community Gardener’s Market that distributes free community-donated produce; a Lunch Break Job Board and an Internet Cafe where our guests can research jobs, write resumes, and check their email. There are cooking classes for children, dinner nights for the community at large, Dinner and A Movie Nights monthly for the Boys & Girls Club, a toy distribution program during the holidays, and Lunch Break is an integral part of local disaster relief efforts.  All of this, and more, is provided to the in-need community members free of charge.

As Dr. Sykoff explained, “The Docs of Rock are committed to seeing that those who are less fortunate have access to food and basic social services.  Lunch Break is a champion of such support, and we applaud their commitment and dedication to help those in need.”

There is a suggested, though not required, $20 donation per person at the kick off party.  There will be a live auction for a table for 10 with premium seating at Lunch Break’s October 20 Gala,  and there will be a 50/50 raffle at $30 per ticket to raise funds for Lunch Break. The winner of the raffle, who doesn’t need to be present at time of drawing, will be announced at the Gala.

Lunch Break can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter,  and can be reached at (732) 747-8577 or info@lunchbreak.org. The Downtown is located at 10 West Front Street in Red Bank, and tickets are on sale for the annual Gala, to be held October 20 at the Navesink Country Club.