UPDATE: Food Giveaway In Newark Will Also Include COVID Vaccines

NEWARK, NJ — UPDATE: The following event was rescheduled from Thursday, June 3 to Thursday, June 10 because of inclement weather. Our original article with the new date follows below.

Essex County officials will hold a combination COVID-19 vaccine clinic and food giveaway event in Newark on Thursday, June 10.

According to county officials, the event will take place at 9 a.m. on the football field side of West Side Park at South 13th Street in Newark.

Combining the two initiatives will help families struggling financially amid the coronavirus, while also hopefully encouraging residents to get vaccinated against the disease, officials said.

Residents coming to the event don’t have to participate in both activities.

Here’s how it will work, officials said:

“Residents can enter the event area by turning onto South 13th Street from 16th Avenue. Only right turns onto South 13th Street from 16th Avenue will be permitted. Residents waiting to enter the site should line up along 16th Avenue around the perimeter of the park. Residents walking to the site should come the park entrance on South 13th Street. Residents walking to the site must wear a face mask/covering and follow social distancing guidelines. 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. Buses will not be allowed to enter.”

County officials added:

“Residents can choose with activity they in which they want to participate. Residents can receive an emergency food box without getting vaccinated and they can get vaccinated even if they do not want the box of food. 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. It is recommended that residents walking to the site bring a cart; the boxes weigh about 40 pounds.”

"Our Emergency Food Distribution program and mobile COVID-19 vaccination unit have been successful in helping the community during the pandemic,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said.

“Bringing these two events together will bring much-needed services to those who need it most,” he added.

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