Free Food Giveaway In Newark To Help Families Amid COVID Crisis – Newark, NJ Patch
Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. and the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders will present an Emergency Food Distribution Event on Thursday, Sept. 10 at the Essex County Donald M. Payne Sr. School of Technology in Newark to help families negatively impacted by the coronavirus.
The 1,000 boxes of food that will be distributed are meant to benefit families who have been forced out of work and are not able to afford food. Residents will receive one box of non-perishable food items and one box of fresh produce.
It will be held as follows:
- Thursday, September 10, 2020
- 9 a.m.
- Essex County Donald M. Payne, Sr. School of Technology, 498-544 West Market Street, Newark, NJ (Enter South 11th Street at the rear of school via Gould Avenue)
It will be held RAIN or SHINE.
“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,” DiVincenzo said. “We are pleased to present this Emergency Food Distribution Event to help those who are in dire need. The coronavirus has created uncertainty and unforeseen challenges for us all.”
“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.
“The coronavirus pandemic has negatively affected our communities in a multitude of ways,” Freeholder President Brendan Gill said. “Unfortunately, over the last few months, the number of Essex County residents requiring assistance to provide food for their families has increased. To that end, I am happy to join the county administration in announcing that more food distribution events will be coming to different municipalities across the county. 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.”
“The Essex County Emergency Food Distribution Event that took place in Branch Brook Park at the end of April was a great success,” Freeholder Vice President Wayne Richardson said. “We were able to hand out over 2,000 boxes of food to residents in need. 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. I thank the county administration for putting this plan in place, and I encourage all residents in need to participate over the next few months.”
Residents driving to the site should enter South 11th Street via Gould Avenue. Left turns from Gould Avenue onto South 11th Street will not be allowed. Residents waiting to enter the lot should line up along Sussex Avenue/Gould Avenue before turning right onto South 11th Street. Residents driving to the site should stay in their vehicles with their windows rolled up and open their trunk when they reach the distribution site.
Residents walking to the site should come to a walk-up location on the sidewalk in front of the Payne School on 9th Avenue. Residents walking to the site must wear a face mask/covering and follow social distancing guidelines. It is recommended that residents walking to the site bring a cart; the boxes weigh about 40 pounds.
Residents who are driving or walking are asked to not arrive to the site until 8 a.m. This is being done to allow for normal traffic flow through the area and prevent any traffic backups from occurring.
The box of non-perishable items contains enough food to provide about 40 meals. They consist of a variety of non-perishable food such as oatmeal, rice, fruit, peanut butter, jelly, shelf stable milk and canned vegetables, chili, soup and ravioli. Items may vary based upon their availability. Volunteers will place one emergency food box into each vehicle or to each walk up.
Buses will not be allowed to enter.
Patch has partnered 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 54 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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