Compassion in Action
We are nurse anesthetists committed to giving beyond the operating room. Through NJANA CAREs, we support individuals and communities across New Jersey in all areas of wellbeing including hunger, homelessness, healthcare access, mental health, and opportunities for life improvement.
Feeding New Jersey Together: Spotlight on Lunch Break
At Lunch Break in Red Bank, New Jersey, the need for food assistance continues to grow as families face reduced benefits and rising costs. Each day, their team provides food, clothing, and life skills support to neighbors in need, offering not just nourishment, but dignity and hope.
This November and December, NJANA CAREs is honored to highlight Lunch Break as our Charity of the Month. We invite all NJANA members and anesthesia groups across the state to take part in our Feeding New Jersey Together Challenge:
How to Participate
Host a local food drive for your community food bank, pantry, or kitchen.
Collect and donate essential items such as canned protein, rice, pasta, cereal, and shelf-stable milk.
Share your photos and stories with NJANA CAREs so we can feature your impact online.
Your efforts will not only help Lunch Break continue its mission in Red Bank but will ripple across communities throughout New Jersey, connecting CRNAs, SRNAs, and anesthesia teams in service and compassion.
Because when we care for our communities, we care for one another.
During COVID-19, NJANA CAREs sold signs to support frontline workers and the local restaurants providing them meals. Thanks to our community, we raised over $5,000 for causes across New Jersey. Pictured: Tracy Castleman, President of NJANA CAREs and Bob Myrinowski, CRNA
NJANA CAREs was proud to sponsor a hole at the 2024 Project Refit Golf Fundraiser in support of veterans and community wellbeing.
During COVID-19, NJANA CAREs sold signs to support frontline workers and the local restaurants providing them meals. Thanks to our community, we raised over $5,000.
In 2024, NJANA CAREs sponsored a veteran to participate in the Project Refit Golf Fundraiser, joining nurses and CRNAs in support of our heroes.
The “Cheers to Change” fundraiser poster from 2024, held at Last Wave Brewing Co., benefiting The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide.
Two women standing in a living room, holding gift baskets, smiling. Behind them is a fireplace with framed photos and decorations on the mantel, a large wall clock, a television showing a beach scene, and a Mickey Mouse figurine on the hearth. They are dressed casually, with one wearing slippers and the other sneakers.
Cheers to Change 2024 Check Presentation
Group photo of people standing behind a sign for NJANA CARES at an outdoor event, some wearing sunglasses, with children and bicycles nearby, clouds and trees in the background.
Community Partners
NJANA CAREs partners with communities across New Jersey to address the root causes of health and wellness inequities—through action, advocacy, and giving.
Project ReFit
Project ReFit is a community-driven organization that provides peer support programs for veterans and first responders.
Their mission is to empower these brave individuals by offering a safe and supportive environment where they can connect with others who have shared experiences. Through their various programs, Project ReFit aims to improve mental health, foster personal growth, and promote overall well-being.
NJANA CAREs is proud to have sponsored Project Refit’s fundraisers every year for the past five years, standing alongside their mission to uplift those who serve our communities.
Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide
Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS) is dedicated to increasing awareness, saving lives and reducing the stigma of suicide through specialized training programs and mental health resources that empower students, parents, school staff, and community members with the skills needed to hep youth build a life of resiliency.
The Kindness Cafe
The Kindness Cafe is more than just a coffee shop—it’s a place of purpose. Their mission is to provide meaningful employment opportunities to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a supportive and uplifting environment.
Through their work, they foster a sense of belonging, dignity, and inclusion for employees and the community alike.
