News
NFL's Donald Brown Helps A Hometown Charity
By John Burton
RED BANK - Donald Brown, running back for the Indianapolis Colts and a Monmouth County native, probably has a lot going on this week, what with the Super Bowl on Sunday.
But Brown recently took a little time out from preparing for the big game in Miami to offer some assistance to a local charity.
Brown provided a $2,000 check to Lunch Break, a soup kitchen and food pantry, 121 Drs. James Parker Boulevard, to help the facility purchase food for the growing number being served.
Brown, who grew up in Atlantic Highlands, had gotten a $1,000 gift from teammate Joseph Addai. Reluctant to accept it, Brown decided to take that gift, add another $1,000 of his own money and make it available to Lunch Break, according to information made available the facility's publicist.
The facility received the donation last week with a simple note from Brown, saying, "He was interested in Lunch Break," this week said Memone Paden Crystian, president of the Lunch Break's board of Trustees.
Brown had attended Red Bank Catholic High School, 112 Broad Street, graduating in 2005, where, along with playing football, he volunteered at the soup kitchen.
With that and now this act, "He's doing what he was taught through Red Bank Catholic," observed Crystian, who is also a graduate of RBC.
Students from RBC, as well as other schools, such as Christian Brothers Academy, located in the Lincroft section of Middletown, as well as younger ones from some area middle schools, often volunteer at the facility, usually during the holiday season and summers, according to Crystian.
Robert Abatemarco, RBC's principal, said that sense of helping, giving back to the community isn't a school requirement. "No, it's just part of the culture here," he said.
The funds will go to very good use, Crystian stressed. "It's remarkable for us," she explained, "because our operations at this time are increasing."
Lunch Break is the first soup kitchen in Monmouth County and has been operating for 26 years. Increasingly, it's seeing a greater demand for the services provided, with Crystian estimated as much as a 25 percent increase over the last 18 months, attributed to the difficult economic times. "People are coming to us for help from areas we never used to see," she said. "From the wealthier towns in the area."
"Our population is changing. The face of Lunch Break is changing," Crystian said.
Lunch Break provides daily meals, distributes donated clothing and helps facilitate social services for the neediest community members. The next challenge for Lunch Break will be accommodating the increasing demand in limited space, "...we literally don't have the space for all of our operations that we're required to do," according to Crystian. "As our client base has grown we're going to have to grow."
Brown went from RBC to the University of Connecticut and was a first round pick for the 2009 NFL draft, going to the Indianapolis Colts, who will play the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV.
"He's the kind of kid you couldn't help but respect and like," Abatemarco recalled of Brown. "And it's obvious today he's carried that through all of his successes."
