People line up early for Food for Florida events in South Florida

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – People lined up early Friday to sign up for D-SNAP benefits.

"I've been on line since 5 o'clock this morning," Louanne Munoz, who was at the C.B. Smith Park event in Pembroke Pines, said.  

Some tempers were running short, as people waited for hours to be attended to, and there were 
even a few calls to fire rescue for heat-related issues.

There were about 10,000 people inside C.B. Smith Park at about noon Friday for the Food for Florida Disaster Food Assistance Program event.

"Traffic was backed up at 5:15 this morning," Gene Price said. "People couldn't even pull into schools after 7 o'clock. I waited seven hours inside there." 

People who signed up for the Food for Florida events in Broward and Miami-Dade counties were given a card, which has disaster-assistance money on it with which people can buy groceries.
 
The cards are being distributed to people who live in any of Florida's 48 disaster counties, and who fall within income and damage parameters. 

Many people who spoke to Local 10 News reporter Glenna Milberg on Friday said they lost of all of their food after losing power by Hurricane Irma. 

Most people in line didn’t know how much money they would receive, but were certain that they would be eligible.

"We're hearing the same types of stories and circumstances over and over and over again," said Paige Patterson-Hughes, with the Florida Department of Children and Families. "People who lost power, therefore they had to throw away their food (or) they weren't able to work for a few days because businesses didn't have power." 

Cards will be handed out to those who already applied for assistance at the following locations between Oct. 11 and Oct. 15:

C.B. Smith Park
900 N. Flamingo Road, Pembroke Pines

Dates serving in order of last name: 

10/11 – A - F
10/12 – G - J
10/13 – K - O
10/14 – P - Z
10/15 – Make-up day

Central Broward Regional Park
3801 W. Sunrise Blvd., Lauderhill

Dates serving in order of last name: 

10/11 – A - F
10/12 – G - J
10/13 – K - O
10/14 – P - Z 
10/15 – Make-up day

Quiet Waters Park
401 S. Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach

Dates serving in order of last name: 
10/11 – A - F 
10/12 – G - J
10/13 – K - O 
10/14 – P - Z
10/15 – Make-up day

Tropical Park
7900 SW 40 Street, Miami

Dates serving in order of last name: 

10/11 – A - F
10/12 – G - J
10/13 – K - O
10/14 – P - Z
10/15 – Make-up day

Miami-Dade College North Campus
11380 NW 27th Avenue, Miami

Dates serving in order of last name: 

10/11 – A - F 
10/12 – G - J 
10/13 – K - O 
10/14 – P - Z 
10/15 – Make-up day

South Dade Government Center
10710 SW 211 Street, Miami

Dates serving in order of last name: 

10/11 – A - F 
10/12 – G - J 
10/13 – K - O 
10/14 – P - Z 
10/15 – Make-up day

Amelia Earhart Park
451 E 56 Street, Hialeah

Dates serving in order of last name: 

10/11 – A - F 
10/12 – G - J 
10/13 – K - O 
10/14 – P - Z 
10/15 – Make-up day

Click here to apply for the Food for Florida Disaster Food Assistance Program.


About the Authors:

Glenna Milberg joined Local 10 News in September 1999 to report on South Florida's top stories and community issues. She also serves as co-host on Local 10's public affairs broadcast, "This Week in South Florida."

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.