MIAMI — The season of giving is here, and dozens of local organizations have come together ahead of the holidays to support families in need.
The annual CAMACOL holiday food distribution kicked off Wednesday morning at loanDepot Park in Little Havana.
Hundreds of visitors and residents lined up since Tuesday hoping to secure essential items for Nochebuena, including the coveted holiday pork, which has become increasingly expensive for many families.
First responders, community partners, donors, and hundereds of volunteers worked to move the large line of cars in attendance.
Local 10’s Hannah Yechivi spoke with Juan Martinez, who works with the Miami Marlins and serves on CAMACOL’s board of directors.
Martinez emphasized the massive coordination behind the event and the importance of keeping its 40-year legacy alive.
“This doesn’t happen overnight. A lot of planning, a lot of distributors, a lot of planning, an event that’s over four decades in its legacy and happy for it to have its first year here at loanDepot Park at the home of the Marlins,” Martinez said.
He shared that securing donations this year was more challenging than usual, but the mission mattered too much to back down.
“It’s about keeping the tradition going, the legacy of this event, what it means for our community. A lot of us as kids either participated in it or volunteered in it and know what it means to our local community in Little Havana,” Martinez added. “To be able to give back means the world to us and the partnership with all our vendors here has been fantastic in their level of cover.”
He said the hosting the event at loanDepot Park came naturally.
“This location is born out of us doing our own thing — the Marlins having our own distros here throughout the year — teamed up with CAMACOL, offered it as an alternative spot and it’s worked out great. It is weather protected, which is very important after the rains we had yesterday,” he added.
Pedro Mesa, a supervisor of Sedano’s Supermarkets and board member of CAMACOL, told Local 10 that his staff never hesitates to be a part of the event.
“It’s something that we don’t even think about. We have to be here. It’s something our customers expect from us. They visit our stores 2-3 times a week, (through) good times and bad times, so when a bad time comes we are supposed to be there for them, that’s why we are here in CAMACOL, said Mesa.
“Life right now is getting very very expensive,” said event attendee Juanita Del Rosario. “The food? I cannot even afford food, so I have to come here and get something to eat. It’s very very hard right now.”
For those hoping to join the line now, organizers say it’s already too late.
“At this point we’ve got the last cars designated already. They’ve been in line since yesterday, so we have hit our 700 cap,” Martinez said, noting that details for the 2026 distribution will be announced soon.
The CAMACOL holiday giveaway happens every year, typically during the first or second weekend of December. Updates will be posted on the organization’s website.
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