Essex County will hold a second emergency food distribution to help families negatively affected by COVID-19, this time in East Orange. The 1,000 boxes of food that will be distributed are meant to benefit families who have been forced out of work and are not able to afford food.
The event will be held on Thursday, May 14, at 10 a.m. at the Essex County Economic Development Center, 50 South Clinton Street, in East Orange.
“The Coronavirus has forced an enormous amount of people out of work and created food insecurity among residents who now have limited income or no income at all,” said Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. “We are pleased to present this emergency food distribution event to help those who are in dire need.” DiVincenzo said that the county will schedule additional emergency food distribution events on a weekly basis.
Essex County residents who want to take advantage of the food giveaway must enter the employee parking lot off of South Burnett Avenue via Freeway Drive. Left turns into the parking lot will not be allowed. Residents waiting to enter the lot should line up along Freeway Drive before turning right onto South Burnett Street. In addition, residents are asked to not arrive on site until 8 a.m. Vehicles that arrive before 8 a.m. will be asked to leave. This is being done to allow for normal traffic flow through the area and prevent any traffic back-ups from being created.
The emergency food boxes contain enough food to provide about 40 meals. They consist of a variety of non-perishable food such as oatmeal, rice, fruit, peanut butter, jelly, shelf stable milk and canned vegetables, chili, soup and ravioli. Items may vary based upon their availability.
The emergency food boxes will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. When residents arrive at the site, they are be asked to keep their windows rolled up and to open their trunk. Volunteers will place one emergency food box into each vehicle.
This event will only provide boxes to cars. Buses will not be allowed to enter. In addition, people walking to the site cannot be assisted.
If a vehicle that comes to the site has two people in it that represent two families, can that vehicle leave with 2 boxes? I ask because my cousin would NEED to take advantage of this opportunity but aje has no mode of transportation and would rely on me to bring her. However, i plan on going for myself as well. And if i bring her we would need to leave with TWO BOXES… will this be allowed/possible?
Please call the County at 973-621-2542 and ask that question.