MIAMI (WSVN) - The Latin Chamber of Commerce is keeping tradition alive with their annual food basket giveaway, meant to help feed families across South Florida.
Hundreds of people braved the cold Wednesday morning, as they patiently waited in line to exchange their vouchers for a holiday food bag.
7News spoke with a crowd favorite, Juanita Alvarez, who is first in line every year. “I got here at 10 last night, and oh my God, all night it was freezing,” she said. “But we made it! Thank God at 7:30 or 8 o’clock we’re going to get our Christmas basket.”
“Now, I can go home and put my things in the refrigerator and get ready for Christmas Eve to cook the dinner for my family,” she added.
This is the second time these people have waited in line this holiday season. Back in November, volunteers gave away 3,000 vouchers, marking CAMACOL’s 33rd annual giveaway.
“This is something that’s so important, especially during this time” said Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz. “There’s a need and a big need.”
For many, waiting in line has become a tradition.
“It is fun, being with all my friends,” Alvarez said. “We hardly don’t meet during the year … but in the three or four days that we get together here, we really enjoy it.”
Each basket contains about $200 worth of food and feeds up to 10 people.
“I’m very happy, very happy,” said one man about the abundance of food. “Thank you so much.”
Volunteers on hand said it’s fulfilling to give back.
“It makes you sometimes sad that you see people that don’t have what you have, but it’s a blessing that we all could as a big group and family cooperate and help the needy ones,” said one volunteer.
Senator-elect and current Governor Rick Scott, helped volunteers hand out the bags in Little Havana, as he has in years past. “It’s fun to be here,” he said. “It’s nice to see people helping each other. There’s always people that have needs, and it’s wonderful what CAMACOL does. I don’t know how many years I’ve gotten to come here, but every year, you feel good when you get here. You see all these people smiling.”
“You feel sorry that they’re up all night, especially last night since it was so cold, but it’s fun to be here and see all these great companies that do so much for other people,” Scott added.
Once upon a time, the Latin Chamber of Commerce was only able to handout a couple hundred baskets, but with the help of all their generous sponsors, they’re now able to provide 3,000 families with all the fixings for a memorable holiday meal.
“All in all, it’s such an amazing event,” said Mercy Saladrigas, President of CAMACOL. “To see all these folks so happy, and it’s due to all of our sponsors, who give so much, and this year they’ve outdone themselves.”
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