(NEWARK, NJ) -- More than 500 greater Newark community members will have a warm meal on their table during the holiday season following United Community Corporation’s (UCC) annual “Friendsgiving” food distribution held this week.
The distribution, which was hosted Tuesday, November 26, at the West Side Park Community Center in Newark, reached 595 individuals with free turkeys, chickens, hams and groceries, addressing food insecurity in the community ahead of Thanksgiving.
“This year’s Friendsgiving event was a powerful reminder of the difference that community support can make,” said UCC Executive Director Craig Mainor. “For many, access to a holiday meal eases some of the burdens of the season and brings families together around the table.”
The event underscored the importance of addressing food insecurity during the holidays, a time when families often struggle to meet basic needs.
This issue impacts the Newark community where recent data highlights the urgency of this issue. In 2022, parts of all five Newark wards were classified as “food deserts” by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, further emphasizing the need for residents to be able to access fresh food. In Essex County, state data reported more than 99,000 people face food insecurity.
By having distributions like Friendsgiving in the heart of Newark’s West Ward neighborhood, UCC aimed to make holiday meals with sustenance available to all residents in the area who attended.
UCC’s efforts were bolstered by the generosity of various supporters and partners, including Peapack-Gladstone Bank, Munich Airport NJ LLC, Wellpoint, RWJBarnabas Health, and Newark West Ward Councilman Dupré Kelly. Additionally, UCC received key assistance from students and volunteers at Great Oaks Legacy Charter School in Newark, members from UCC’s YouthBuild program, New Jersey Sen. George Helmy’s office, and the community.
"As a dedicated partner of UCC, Peapack Private is honored to support their events year-round, with a special focus on Friendsgiving Tuesday,” said a Peapack Private Bank representative. “The bank is committed to our mission alongside UCC, working to uplift disadvantaged individuals and families and enhance their quality of life, particularly during the holiday season."
“Food insecurity is a well-documented and significant social determinant of health,” said Balpreet Grewal-Virk, Senior Vice President, Community Health at RWJBarnabas Health. “RWJBarnabas Health is privileged to be part of the fabric of the great City of Newark and proud to partner with like-minded organizations to increase access to healthy food in pursuit of our mission to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey.”
"As a pillar of the community, Munich Airport NJ LLC, and by extension, Newark Terminal A, is extremely committed to seeing Newark and Elizabeth's growth and contributing to UCC's efforts that build our community up," said Tahra Friedman, Marketing and Social Media Manager at Munich Airport NJ LLC. "These events provide important resources to those in need during a time of year when family should be cherished. It is through these partnerships that we can build stronger, more resilient communities for generations to come. We look forward to continuing to support our communities and helping to foster a spirit of togetherness and generosity."
“Sen. George S. Helmy is deeply committed to championing initiatives and organizations like UCC, which strive to enhance the quality of life for individuals and families, especially within underserved communities,” said Michael Gray, Senior Outreach Advisor to Sen. Helmy. “My presence today reflects the senator’s dedication to delivering exceptional constituent services and executing an outreach strategy to connect federal resources directly to the people who need them most.”
As UCC’s staff and volunteers look ahead, the agency remains steadfast in its dedication to improving the lives of local families and ensuring access to nutritious food and essential services.
For more information about UCC’s events and resources, visit uccnewark.org.
