Thanksgiving Food Giveaway In West Orange Will Help In-Need Families

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Essex County and RWJBarnabas Health will team up to hold a free Thanksgiving emergency food distribution event in West Orange on Thursday, Nov. 16.

According to a news release from the county, the event aims to help families who are facing food insecurity, or who have been impacted by inflation or rising food costs.

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

The event will take place at 9 a.m. at the South Mountain Recreation Complex/Essex County Codey Arena, 560 Northfield Avenue in West Orange. Here’s what to know if you plan to go, organizers 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 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.”

“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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