Thanksgiving Food Giveaway At Branch Brook Park In Newark: 2026 Holidays

NEWARK, NJ — Essex County will hold a Thanksgiving food giveaway at Branch Brook Park in Newark for families in need at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19.

The event is open to local families facing food insecurity, or who have impacted by inflation and rising food costs. It will take place at the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center on Branch Brook Park Drive.

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

Here’s what to know if you plan to go, the county said:

“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 items served during a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Only one 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.”

This is the sixth food distribution hosted by Essex County and RWJBarnabas Health; earlier events were in Branch Brook Park, Monte Irvin Orange Park, Weequahic Park and Irvington Park.

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