OPA-LOCKA, FLA. (WSVN) - The need runs deep across South Florida as families continue to struggle amid the pandemic. Families in Opa-Locka were gifted with free food at a drive-thru event.
Cars lined up for blocks in Opa-Locka, Tuesday morning.
“Our last count was like 175 cars,” said Opa-Locka commissioner Alvin Burke.
“I’m glad, you know? It’s a lot of help,” said a recipent.
Meanwhile, hundreds lined up outside Soccer Park along Northeast Second Avenue in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood hoping for a $250 gift card from Publix.
“Imagine, for $250 to spend the night here in this weather, it’s terrible,” said the woman at the front of the line.
For some, the gift card is a lifeline.
“I lost my job. I’m on unemployment. I’m about to lose the place where I live. I mean, it’s a horrible thing that I’m going through, and it’s not only me,” the woman said.
Others got testy at times with so many people needing help, and police moved the line to keep it organized.
“My gosh. It was crazy, and I had my baby with me,” said recipient Samantha. “Everyone was just pushing.”
Cards went fast, but there are three more gift card distributions planned for the remainder of December.
Back in Opa-Locka, cool weather allowed Feeding South Florida to distribute fresher foods.
“Today, we had milk, we had eggs, hot dogs, we had chicken,” Burke said.
Just like the gift cards, the food went fast.
“Some of the people get in line at 6 or 7 o’clock in the morning, and we don’t start until 9 o’clock,” said Burke, “so it’s a lot of people out there that’s hurting.”
Other recipients show up to the food distribution even earlier.
Carolyn Graham said she came at 4 a.m.
“Well, I’m thankful to God that I’m able to get food, because it has been hard,” Graham said.
The pandemic has been hard on so many people, and volunteers don’t expect the need to come down any time soon.
“And it’s gonna continue. It’s gonna continue, and we’re gonna continue for the need of the people,” said volunteer Chris Burks.
Community support played a big role, too. On Tuesday, Feeding South Florida picked up nearly two pallets of food donated by Broward County employees for families in need.
“We’re relying on our community even more so now so we can put food on the table for many families,” said Feeding South Florida CEO Paco Velez.
Another food distribution event is scheduled for Wednesday at the tennis center in West Oakland Park Boulevard from 9 to 11 a.m.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.