Thousands of Miami residents to be served during annual holiday food distribution

MIAMI – An annual tradition to help families in need this holiday season saw long lines Wednesday at Miami’s Jose Marti Park.

The food distribution was hosted by Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo.

Some of the folks who came out Wednesday had been waiting for a couple of hours as the line spilled outside of the park.

There was both a walk-up line and down the street, people were allowed to drive up for the distribution.

Those who showed up needed to show proof that they live in District 3.

After that, they were able to get pork shoulders and about 40 pounds worth of groceries for the holidays.

The event is expected to serve more than 8,000 people.

The annual event is touted as one of the largest food distributions in the city of Miami, if not in the state of Florida.

The long lines showed there is definitely a need for help in the area.

One woman, Maria Garcia, told Local 10 News reporter Layron Livingston that she was thankful for the food distribution because “some people, they don’t have nowhere to sleep, and they sleep in the streets sometimes. So, it’s very hard.”

Garcia said she is 78 and for two years, she slept in her car, so she’s just grateful to have not just a place to stay, but also food on the table.

Event volunteers will be distributing the food until it runs out, which is why folks get there as early as possible.