Elected leaders, police help hand out food in Miami Beach during coronavirus pandemic
In recent weeks, Miami Beach police officers, elected leaders and hordes of volunteers — in partnership with Farm Share, Feeding South Florida and South Florida Seniors in Action — have been handing out donated food to elderly residents at their homes and to the public at large via drive-thru distributions.
South Florida Seniors in Action has been distributing 500 meals every Tuesday and Thursday. On Tuesday, Miami Beach Commissioner David Richardson and Police Chief Richard Clements worked side by side bagging food for those in need.
At a food distribution run by South Florida Seniors in Action on Tuesday, volunteer Gustavo Umpierre said he has been out of work for more than a month. The massage therapist said he chose to help distribute food because others were facing hardships, too.
“There are a lot of people who need help,” he said. “I’m really proud of what the city is doing.”
Floridians have filed more than 1 million claims for unemployment benefits since local municipalities, like Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County, shut down “non-essential businesses” like bars and massage parlors in March.
Miami Beach Police announced Thursday that more than 14,000 families had benefited so far from food distributions. Those in need are encouraged to dial 311 or visit the city’s website to access food distributions. For a list of upcoming Farm Share food distributions, visit the organization’s website. Visit feedingsouthflorida.org/covid19 to find a food pantry in your area.
About six weeks ago, Richardson helped the organization convert a local church, All Souls’ Episcopal Church, into a warehouse after the city building that Seniors in Action had been working out of closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, he said.
He said city involvement in what is typically a charity-led effort is necessary during the pandemic, where demand has increased as residents face financial hardships.
“We’re in extraordinary circumstances because it’s not possible to do these walk-up events, which make it easier and require less resources,” he said. “I think this is a time and a place where city government needs to be more involved to make sure their citizens are taken care of.”
Richardson, in partnership with Feeding South Florida, has held drive-thru food distributions at 2100 Collins Avenue in recent weeks. Those who need food in Miami Beach can drive, or ride in someone’s car, to the location Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. — although you are permitted to line up prior to the opening time.
Seven employees of the city’s Housing and Community Services Department and six Parks Department employees have been diverted from other programs to deliver food. The employees pack food and deliver it to doorsteps, where they obtain a signature from the owner or renter of the home. Food distributions organized by the city are paid for by the city’s general fund and a Community Development Block Grant.
“We have been purchasing bulk food from Costco and have used Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds to purchase grocery bags pre-packed by Publix with non-perishable foods,” a city spokeswoman wrote in an email.
This story was originally published April 24, 2020 at 7:00 AM.
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