40th CAMACOL food distribution kicks off at loanDepot Park; drivers wait over 12 hours to receive holiday baskets

A South Florida organization is stepping up to feed a need to families in need this holiday season just as it has done for the past years CAMACOL has been hosting a food distribution in Miami for four decades Organizers noted food baskets will be handed out at this year s event at loanDepot Park and it will predominantly be a drive-thru distribution About baskets to be handed out to pedestrians as well News Dronecam hovered above six different rows of cars snaking around the venue just after a m on Wednesday Numerous drivers camped overnight and have been waiting at the venue since Tuesday afternoon Juanita lvarez mentioned she has been first in line for about half the time CAMACOL has organized the annual tradition I got here the last day at in the morning Yes and in the current era is Wednesday and it s December the th and I was here on a Tuesday December the th early in the morning noted lvarez They went and picked me up at and we just got here and lined up right here When appealed what brings her back every year lvarez communicated News This is my th year and I just love to see all of y all to come and interview me and to be with all my friends and especially the basket This is great I m waiting for it because you know this I share with my family We need this because things are really expensive lately I don t know what s going on you know but this helps a lot This oh my goodness when I see it and all these people be giving me a bag here a basket here you know oh I be so happy My heart is about to come out because I m thinking about my family You know they need it lvarez explained the baskets are filled with generous portions of holiday staples Like Publix and Sedano s Supermarket they re there you know I saw the Coca-Cola I saw the Goya all these products This is wonderful she noted The drive-thru distribution differs from other years insofar as organizers will be distributing all of the food through the garage at loanDepotPark instead of in front of the CAMACOL headquarters Inside the garage News cameras captured several tents from different sponsors inclusing Coca-Cola Goya and Iberia At the Publix tent participants will hand out entire porks to families The distribution started at a m and usually lasts until around noon