A free food distribution event is being held Saturday at the Riverside Public Works facility on Monroe Street. Beginning at 10 a.m., county residents who are in need of food during the crisis will be able to drive up to receive emergency boxes without leaving their vehicles.

RIVERSIDE — Burlington County residents who are jobless or struggling to afford food due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak can find some help this weekend.

A free food distribution event is being held Saturday at the Riverside Public Works facility on Monroe Street. Beginning at 10 a.m., county residents who are in need of food during the crisis will be able to drive up to receive emergency boxes without leaving their vehicles.

The event is being held by the Food Bank of South Jersey in partnership with the county freeholders and 7th Legislative District lawmakers, Sen. Troy Singleton and Assembly members Herb Conaway and Carol Murphy.

Riverside’s municipal government is hosting and assisting with the distribution. Officials said they hope to distribute thousands of pounds of food to county residents who are considered vulnerable to the coronavirus or struggling financially due to the economic fallout from the pandemic.

“An unintended consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic has been food insecurity resulting from the closures of schools and places of employment,” Singleton said. “To address this, we are working in partnership with the Food Bank of South Jersey to ensure that children and families in Riverside, and throughout Burlington County, have access to nutritious food in the midst of this unprecedented, public health crisis.”

More than 1 million New Jerseyans have filed for unemployment during the crisis and the Food Bank reported a more than 200% increase in food demand across the region. And more than 40% of those seeking help are first-time food bank resource recipients.

Conaway and Murphy said residents struggling during the pandemic should not have to go hungry or worry about their next meal.

“With unemployment on the rise and millions of children out of school, more people are now facing hunger than ever. Many may be facing food insecurity for the first time and no family should have to choose between putting food on the table and paying their bills,” Conaway said.

“The very real and ever-present reality of food insecurity was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and all of the other issues that it caused,” added Murphy. “I am proud to work with Riverside Township, as well as, the Food Bank of South Jersey and the Burlington County Freeholders to help address residents’ need for nutritious food during this unprecedented situation.”

All county residents are eligible to receive an emergency food boxes. Those who attend should be prepared to present proof of New Jersey residency. The distribution will be done direct-to-vehicle, eliminating person-to-person contact points. Residents are required to wear masks – and remain in their vehicles while Food Bank staff and volunteers place the food boxes and other resources into their vehicles.

County Freeholder Deputy Director Tom Pullion said the event was intended to provide some relief for residents struggling during the unprecedented crisis.

“Some Burlington County residents are struggling for basic necessities while facing uncertain health and employment situations,” he said. “We are here to help relieve some of that burden by sponsoring various emergency food distribution events throughout our county and to help our residents in any way we can.”

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