Lunch Break Gets an Assist from Community Gardeners

It's been roughly two weeks since gardeners started planting at their brand new right outside of borough hall. Already they're making good on a promise made well before post holes were dug and the soil tilled.

Part of the purpose of a community garden, they told council when first seeking approvals, is to help benefit the community.

Shrewsbury Councilman Tom Menapace said the borough's community gardeners are teaming up with Lunch Break in Red Bank to supply the soup kitchen, food pantry and social outreach center with fresh produce as part of the brand new initiative, the .

Lunch Break developed the market after recognizing the need in the community not just for food, but for fresh fruits and vegetables, which are often cost prohibitive for those who need them most.

The market, held every Tuesday morning, already features produce donated by the likes of Sickles Market in Little Silver and vendors from the Red Bank Farmers Market, held each Sunday throughout the summer.

The goal, organizers say, is to get to a point where anyone with a backyard garden considers bringing their excess produce to Lunch Break, regardless of whether it's an entire crate of tomatoes or a few extra zucchini. 

Shrewsbury gardeners have committed to helping out Lunch Break and its market endeavor throughout their very first growing season.

"This is a very active group of gardeners with a true sense of community," Menapace said.

The Community Gardener's Market at Lunch Break is held every Tuesday from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. now through September. Donations are accepted every Monday. For more information or to donate, visit the Lunch Break website or call 732-747-8577.