RED BANK - The Count Basie Center for the Arts is in the midst of a massive expansion project for its arts and education endeavors, and the Red Bank landmark got a boost Wednesday from a local legend.

Jon Stewart, a comedian and actor best known for his Emmy-winning tenure as host of "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central, delivered a free lunch to construction workers at the Basie's Monmouth Street complex on Wednesday afternoon.

(See Stewart in action in the video at the top of this story.)

"I thought it was a great idea to have the kind of opportunities that kids are going to have to come here and learn and experience the arts," Stewart told the Asbury Park Press and USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey. "It's so important. And schools are having a harder and harder time being able to administer those because their budgets are tight, too. So to have something like this available locally I think is really important."

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The Basie is in the midst of a $26 million capital campaign to transform itself into and arts, education and entertainment campus.

On Wednesday afternoon, Stewart worked the counter of the Neptune City-based Shore Good Eats 'N' Treats food truck. He served up free meals to the approximately 40 construction workers on site, as well as Basie staff members and local dignitaries, including Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna.

Stewart most recently appeared at the Basie in June for a performance to support the Basie's expansion efforts.

Stewart "loves this community, he loves what's happening here, he loves the vision. ... He's just been amazing," said Basie president and CEO Adam Philipson, "It always feels great when community members come out to support, and it's great when someone knows their presence packs a punch."

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The expansion project, first announced in 2015, will nearly double the Basie's size and come to include the Jay and Linda Grunin Arts and Education Building to the west of the current theater, topped by the Rock 'n' Rohl Rooftop Lounge (named after campaign donors Mark and Denise Rohl).

A second performance space is also coming to the west, while to the east there will be an expanded lobby, new concessions and restrooms, a members lounge, the Stillwell-Larkin Pavilion and an outdoor plaza.

The nearly century-old venue also will receive new air conditioning and heating systems, an elevator and expanded restroom facilities, as well as a modernized backstage area and updated production technology.

"One of the nice things about arts is it exposes kids to things outside of their world, their everyday neighborhood world," Stewart said. "And it sparks all kinds of — whether they're involved in it or not — influences, imagination, interest and education.

"For me, there was a bar I used to work in called City Gardens (in Trenton). Until I found that place, I was like, 'I don't know what I'm going to do.' So just being exposed to an environment that is creative and kind of outside of the box a little bit I think is really helpful."

Ground was broken on the Basie's expansion project last September, and Philipson said the project will hopefully be finished by the end of 2019.

Stewart, a Lawrenceville native, now lives in Middletown and is in the process of converting Hockhockson Farm in Colts Neck into the New Jersey branch of animal sanctuary Farm Sanctuary.

"With the foot traffic and the people coming in here (to the Basie) and the local businesses and the artists that are coming through, it's just a nice mix for people that are on the road," said Stewart. "You know, I'm on the road a lot (and) being able to come to a place that has an actual town feel to it is really nice."