NEWARK, N.J. - Thousands of people lined up at Barringer High School Sunday afternoon as United Community Corporation, Roosevelt Community 4U and Bessie Green Community, Inc. partnered to serve Essex County with their third massive free food distribution event of the summer.
This distribution was as big as ever with over 23,000 individuals in-need receiving both perishable and non-perishable food and drinks during the three-hour event.
“The number of people served being that high makes me feel good and sad at the same time,” United Community Corporation Executive Director Craig Mainor said. “Over 20,000 people served makes me very happy, but it also lets me know that there is so much more that we can do.”
United Community Corporation, Roosevelt Community 4U and Bessie Green were not at it alone and paired with North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos Jr., the Anibal Ramos Jr. Civic Association, Newark Public Schools and The Allen Village CDC for the food drive, which served 3,978 cars and 1,251 walk-in clients with family sizes averaging between four and five members.
"The pandemic has created a tremendous need in our city as well as an unprecedented spirit of cooperation," Ramos said. "So many organizations participated in this event to make it a success. This is a great example of a community coming together to help those in need."
United Community Corporation has been fighting poverty in the Greater Essex County area since its creation in 1964. Bessie Green Community, Inc. has been involved with that fight since 1978. The two long-time non-profits were excited to unite with the Monmouth County-based Roosevelt Community 4U to host these massive events within the Newark community.
“In these days we see how collaboration between the leaders of different communities to support the people that are in need can result in bridges between different communities, cultures, and ethnicities,” Roosevelt Community 4U founder Rabbi Moshe Hezrony said. “We encourage more communities to follow this approach and bring an atmosphere on fraternity and cooperation.”
That fraternity was as evident as ever Sunday with more than 270 volunteers coming from the host agencies as well as over 20 Essex County-based organizations including local government, councilmen, senators and non-profits among plenty more. It was run with help from the 2nd Precinct Council of the Newark Police Department, Newark Essex County Constable, Essex County Sheriff's Office and Newark Firefighters Department.
"Witnessing the overwhelming number of volunteers, from various organizations, who gave up their time on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, was truly uplifting during this time of unprecedented need." Bessie Green Community Board Secretary Pauline McKeown said.
While providing clients with food was the top priority for all involved, the distribution also provided the United Community Corporation with a chance to spread the word about its other services. As one of Newark's oldest non-profit organizations, United Community Corporations is multi-dimensional providing a 24-hour emergency shelter, a food pantry that served over 20,000 meals in July, housing and energy assistance, senior services and youth development programs.
“This event was a big door opening for us within the North Ward community,” Mainor said. “We’ve already gotten calls for our services from people that were waiting in line. I want to take that momentum and keep going.”
For more information contact about United Community Corporation visit: uccnewark.org.
For more information about Roosevelt Community4U visit: https://community4u.us/
For more information about Bessie Green Community Inc. visit: http://bessiegreen.org/
For more information about Councilman Anibal Ramos Jr. visit: http://www.anibalramosjr.com/
For more information about Newark Public Schools visit: https://www.nps.k12.nj.us/
For more information about The Allen Village CDC visit: http://www.allennewark.org/
