Free Thanksgiving Food Giveaway At Branch Brook Park In Newark

NEWARK, NJ — A free food giveaway event will take place in Newark to help families struggling with finances ahead of the 2024 Thanksgiving holiday.

Essex County and RWJBarnabas Health will be teaming up to hold a Thanksgiving Emergency Food Distribution Event on Thursday, Nov. 21. It will take place at 9 a.m. at the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center at Branch Brook Park in Newark (see directions here).

There will be 1,000 frozen turkeys and boxes of non-perishable food available on a first-come first-served basis, county officials said.

The event is open to families who are facing food insecurity, or who have been impacted by inflation and rising food costs, officials said.

Here’s what to know if you plan to go:

“Residents driving to Branch Brook Park should enter the park via the Heller Parkway entrance or more southern entrances. Cars entering from Mill Street or other northern entrances will not be allowed to make a left turn into the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center parking lot. Residents walking to the site should come to a walk-up location by the Cherry Blossom Center Welcome Center. It is recommended that residents walking to the site bring a cart. Residents will receive a frozen turkey and box of food that contains food items served during a traditional Thanksgiving meal. 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.”

“Many families are facing food insecurity because of inflation and the rising costs of food and energy,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said.

“We are pleased to present this special Thanksgiving Emergency Food Distribution Event for those who are in dire need and to make sure all our families have something to be thankful for this year,” DiVincenzo said.

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