Thanksgiving emergency food distribution event presented by County Executive DiVincenzo and RWJBarnabas Health

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. and RWJBarnabas Health will present a Thanksgiving Emergency Food Distribution Event to help families facing food insecurity or impacted by inflation and rising food costs. There will be 1,000 frozen turkeys and boxes of non-perishable food available on a first-come first-served basis.

It will be held as follows: Date: Thursday, November 16, 2023 Time: 9 a.m.
Place: Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex Essex County Codey Arena–560 Northfield Avenue West Orange, NJ

It will be held RAIN or SHINE.

“Many families are facing food insecurity because of inflation and the rising costs of food and energy. 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.

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.

During the pandemic, Essex County hosted over 60 food distribution events at sites throughout the county. It is estimated that over three million meals were distributed during those events.