Hungry Americans in Florida get free food: ‘People are hurting’

On any Saturday morning In the parking lot of Boynton Beach Mall in Florida, hundreds of drivers lined up in their cars, eager to get food.

“These are everyday people. They had a job,” Charles Bender told Fox News Digital. “They just didn’t make it.”

Bender is the founding CEO of Place of Hope, a faith-based organization that provides programs and services. to children and families in five Florida counties.

As the number of hungry people increases America’s food pantries are therefore more important than ever.

“Every Saturday of the month We will help families in desperate need of food and nutrition. That is a lot,” Bender said. “So we go out there every Saturday and try to meet their needs.”

This initiative started earlier this year. After about three months Bender said Place of Hope has served over a million pounds of food.

until December That number has since grown to more than 2 million.

Place of Hope volunteers gather for a few hours every Saturday morning to provide needed food and drink to those waiting in line. All this for free

“There is no pre-testing,” Bender said. “These are just people who want… And there are volunteers loading donations into their cars.”

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Donated merchandise comes from area businesses, grocery stores like Publix and Trader Joe’s, and even the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bender said.

“We’re talking about solid, nutritious meals for families, produce, meat, poultry, all sorts of things, some canned food,” he said.

Volunteers sort food bags before the activity begins. People lined up in their cars to get a big meal. Including produce and meat (Peter Berg/Fox News Digital)

On one Saturday at the end of September Volunteers are sorting donated items unloaded from refrigerated trucks and pallets.

Donated food and drinks include cucumbers, squash, potatoes, meat, bread, cheese, milk, and juice. There’s even baby food.

before the row opens Volunteers gather around the pastor, who leads the prayers. Then it was time to go to work.

The priest led volunteers in prayer before the line opened. (Peter Berg/Fox News Digital)

Volunteers work in an assembly style. They fill each open trunk with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Along with drinking water and soft drinks. As the vehicle slowly Move through each designated stop.

It takes about two and a half minutes from start to finish.

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Vehicles often line up before sunrise – several hours before distribution begins – just to keep their spots.

Volunteers pick up cheese and put it in the back of cars in line. (Peter Berg/Fox News Digital)

“People are hurting,” Bender said.

“Who wants to stand in line to buy food on a Saturday? But if you have to, you will.”

Hot dogs and sausages were on the table ready to be loaded into the back of the car. (Peter Berg/Fox News Digital)

The first driver through the line on Saturday identified himself as Mike. He declined to give his last name.

He told Fox News Digital that he is disabled and is grateful to Place of Hope for their assistance.

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“I thank God they are doing this,” he said. “It is a good thing they are doing. It really helped a lot.”

One man who was first in line at a drive-thru food distribution told Fox News Digital he was grateful for the help. (Peter Berg/Fox News Digital)

Great-grandfather called it “blessing”

Place of Hope doesn’t just provide food to families on Saturdays.

The organization also provides meals throughout the week for local foster families.

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“Just a good person. that came together to meet this need,” Bender said.

That need was most evident Saturday morning in the sparsely populated mall parking lot.

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“These are people on a daily basis from all walks of life (who) just need a little extra help. Because four years ago It doesn’t look like this,” Bender said.

“It doesn’t feel like this.”