Emergency Food Distribution Scheduled For Newark: COVID Relief

NEWARK, NJ — Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. and the Essex County Board of County Commissioners are spearheading an emergency food distribution event on Thursday, Jan. 7 in Essex County Weequahic Park in Newark.

The event aims to help families impacted by the coronavirus, according to a county news release.

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.

It will be held as follows:

• Date: Thursday, January 7, 2021
• Time:9 a.m.
• Place: Essex County Weequahic Park. Enter via Meeker Avenue, Newark, NJ

It will be held rain or shine, officials said.

Here's how it will work, officials said:

• Residents driving to the site should enter the park via the Meeker Avenue entrance. Residents waiting to enter the park should line up along Meeker Avenue before turning right into the park. Left turns into the park from Meeker Avenue will not be permitted.
• Residents walking to the site should come to Rev. Ronald Christian Sports Complex. A station will be set up adjacent to the parking lot on the western side of the football field. 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 back-ups from being created.

According to county officials, the emergency food boxes contain 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.

Only one emergency food box will be placed into a vehicle's trunk or given to each resident who walks to the site.

Buses will not be allowed to enter.

"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, 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," County County Commission President Brendan Gill said.

"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.

County Commission Vice President Wayne Richardson said that the Essex County emergency food distribution event that took place in Branch Brook Park at the end of April was a great 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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