Feeding South Florida Hands Out Food in Miami Beach

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Feeding South Florida teamed up for a mobile food pantry Tuesday

More than 600 people were expected to attend a food giveaway in Miami Beach as Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Feeding South Florida teamed up for a mobile food pantry Tuesday. 

Several people waited in line, drinking water or hiding under umbrellas to keep cool in the heat, including Coty Rodriguez, who, like so many in the line, needed just a little extra help to make ends meet.

"I am alone, I don't have any family here," said Rodriguez. "I'm born in Chile but I live in Miami Beach 35 years."

Rodriguez said after years of working hard, she's on a fixed income and need some help.

"I worked at the motels, I was assistant manager at a hotel on Collins Avenue a long time ago," she said. "The income is very low for us, everyone needs help."

About 20,000 pounds of fresh vegetables, fruits and bread products were handed out.

"From Palm Beach County down to the Keys, there are over 949,000 individuals who are struggling to put food on the table," said Paco Velez, CEO of Feeding South Florida.

"This is wonderful that we're able to do this today but this is something that's necessary on a weekly basis," Wasserman-Schultz said. "We are the most powerful country in

the entire world, the United States of America should not be allowing our own people to go hungry."

Though she's in a situation she might not want to be in, Rodriguez keeps a positive attitude, thanking everyone along the way. She said hopefully her attitude of happiness can spread.

"I need to be happy because I don't want to be old," she said.

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