Thanksgiving Food Giveaway In West Orange For In-Need Families

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A county-sponsored Thanksgiving Emergency Food Distribution Event will take place in West Orange at 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 18.

According to Essex County officials, the event is being held to help families negatively impacted by the pandemic or facing food insecurity. There will be 1,000 frozen turkeys and boxes of non-perishable food available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The event will take place at Essex County Codey Arena, 560 Northfield Avenue in West Orange. Here’s what to know, officials said:

“Residents driving to Codey Arena should use the western entrance to the parking lot that is across the street from the BP gasoline station. Left turns from Northfield Avenue into the parking lot will not be allowed. Residents waiting to enter the site should line up along Cherry Lane before turning right onto Northfield Avenue. Residents walking to the site should come to the eastern end of the commuter parking deck. It is recommended that residents walking to the site bring a cart. 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. Residents will receive a frozen turkey and an emergency food box 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.”

During the pandemic, Essex County hosted more than 50 food distribution events at sites throughout the county. It is estimated that over three million meals were distributed during those events, officials said.

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

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