Veteran photographer Mark Weiss, pictured at center with Todd Rundgren and Utopia in 1985, will conduct an auction of his famous images for the benefit of Red Bank-based Lunch Break Inc. 

As Lunch Break prepares for its fifth annual Gala, the Red Bank-based nonprofit plans an online auction of iconic photographs by famed photographer Mark Weiss to benefit its 30-year mission of helping those community members in need.  His photos of rock and roll celebrities from the 1970s and 80s—all signed by Weiss and his subjects — are known by the campaign name, “Feels Like the First Time,” borrowed from the Foreigner song.

These unique limited edition photographs are from the first time Weiss photographed each artist, and are hand picked from his extensive archives spanning over 35 years. Included in last year’s pre-Gala online auction were photos by Weiss of artists:  Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne, Debbie Harry of Blondie, and KISS. These photos resulted in a substantial donation to Lunch Break.

The auction will be conducted on  Charitybuzz  from Wednesday, September 24, to October 15 (take it here for information about the auction and when it goes live.  Charitybuzz gives its bidders exclusive opportunities to make a difference, and live their dreams through online charity auctions with celebrities and luxury brands.

In 2013 Lunch Break served 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.  These services are free to Lunch Break guests and clients, and are accomplished with a small paid staff supported by more than 2,000 volunteers, as well as the generosity of residents and organizations in the greater Red Bank area and beyond.

Weiss explains, “I never imagined when I was 16 and sneaking my camera into concerts that I could make a living out of it, much less help out people in my own hometown by donating the sale of these photos 30 years later. My work as a photographer has been a dream come true, and it’s time to give back.”  And, now Weiss is donating these photographs of rock legends to help raise funds for Lunch Break, a cause near and dear to his heart.  For more information about the Gala or the auction, contact Petra Vanderven at pvanderven@lunchbreak.org or (732)747-857 x3106.