CBS4 (WFOR MIAMI): Wasserman Shultz Hosts Feeding South Florida Event With Mobile Pantry

Miami Beach, FL, September 3, 2013

MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) - Congresswomen Debbie Wasserman-Shultz fed South Florida Tuesday morning in support of Hunger Action Month which lasts all through September.

Wasserman Shultz and Miami Beach Mayor Mattie Herrera Bower along with other elected officials, and in conjunction with UNIDAD of Miami Beach, showed support for Hunger Action Month by distributing over 20,000 pounds of food to hungry individuals in the community.

The event, where approximately 1,000 were expected to attend, was held at the Miami Beach Convention Center Parking lot.

With all the budget cuts in Washington, seniors are one of the largest groups being affected by the sequester since many meal programs have been cut.

“The tough choices that these seniors are having to make between medicine and meals, between rent and feeding themselves, is on unconscionable for the most powerful country on earth.” Said Congressman Wasserman Schultz.

Hundreds of seniors lined-up under the hot sun Tuesday to collect some much-needed food.

“I got everything I need for a month, a bag filled with lemons, avocados, potatoes,” said Brenda Espinosa, adding, “It makes a difference between being the one meal—to three meals a day.”

In a market-style food distribution, the refrigerated mobile pantry, which is part of a nationwide fleet from Kraft Foods and its Foundation with Feeding America, holds fresh fruits, vegetables and bread products.

“This is very important. Look at the amount of people,” said Mayor Herrera Bower pointing at the crowd of people, adding, “We have food for 1000, and I think we have more than 1000 and we’ve cut down a little bit, but we are feeding them and that’s what’s important.”

Hunger Action Month is an initiative set to raise awareness of hunger, all while taking action in support of domestic hunger relief.

In Miami-Dade County, according to Feeding South Florida’s records, 441,240 people struggle to put food on the table; 149,530 of those are children.

For more information on how you can get involved with Feeding South Florida, visit www.feedingsouthflorida.org.