COVID-19 Aid In Newark: Emergency Food Giveaway Events (UPDATED) – Patch.com

NEWARK, NJ — UPDATE: Due to weather predictions, the event scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 22 has been moved to the Essex County Hall of Records Complex, Employee Parking Deck, 50 West Market Street. Our original article follows below.

Essex County will hold two, special emergency food distribution events in Newark to help families impacted by the coronavirus.

According to county officials, during the event on Thursday, Dec. 17, people will receive a case of water with their emergency food box. On Tuesday, Dec. 22, people will receive a special holiday food box and a frozen turkey.

The events are meant to benefit families who have been forced out of work and are not able to afford food, officials said.

They will take place as follows:

Thursday, December 17, 2020

  • 9 a.m.
  • Essex County Branch Brook Park, Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Branch Brook Drive between Mills Street and Heller Parkway, Newark

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

  • 9 a.m.
  • Essex County Weequahic Park, Use Meeker Avenue Entrance, Newark

“The coronavirus has forced an enormous amount of people out of work and created food insecurity among residents who now have limited income or no income at all,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said.

“We hope this emergency food distribution helps those families who are struggling,” DiVincenzo said, adding that additional emergency food distribution events will be scheduled on a weekly basis.

“Unfortunately, over the last few months, the number of Essex County residents requiring assistance to provide food for their families has increased,” said Brendan Gill, president of the Essex County Board of Commissioners.

“Providing service to our residents is something I take great pride in, and it is my hope the upcoming food distribution events will allow more Essex County residents in need to receive assistance,” Gill said.

Commissioner Vice President Wayne Richardson said the giveaway event that took place in Branch Brook Park at the end of April was a big success.

“We were able to hand out over 2,000 boxes of food to residents in need,” Richardson said. “Our goal is to duplicate that success in different towns across Essex County, and give all of our residents a chance to receive food in a location that is in close proximity to their community.”

Patch has teamed with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 50 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.

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