Dozens Line Up Days Ahead Of Free Food Voucher Giveaway
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- An annual tradition in a Little Havana neighborhood is underway as hundreds of people camp out for days to receive a voucher for a free holiday meal basket.
The vouchers will be handed out Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m. by the Latin Chamber of Commerce.
They do it every year and every year, hundreds of people wait in line for the voucher, then they wait in line again for the actual basket of food.
As in previous years, some patient people have been in line since last week to ensure they have a holiday meal for their family.
Letty Rojas has been in line at the Camacol Building in Little Havana since Thanksgiving Day in order to be one of the first to receive the food voucher.
"It's very great. I'm grateful for what they are doing," said Rojas.
This is the 10th year for Juanita Alvarez.
"It's great. It's worth it getting wet. It is amazing," Alvarez said.
Rainy weather and heat couldn't stop Lisa Portillo who said she desperately needs it.
"I need the food for me and my son. My husband died so we have a little bit less money so I'm trying to save where I can," explained Portillo.
Each person had their own way of passing the time. Dominos was a popular choice but the time in line isn't just about the food.
"We share, we do rotations, we go home, we change and we come back so we are having fun meeting new people every year," said Alvarez.
In total, Camacol will pass out 3,000 baskets; each one will have $150 worth of food meant for a traditional Latin "Noche Buena" or Christmas Eve."
This is Zoraida Pacheco's third year receiving the basket.
"We got the pork feet, we get rice, we get tomato sauce, we get juices, we get soda, they even give us shampoo and conditioner, they give us plenty of stuff," said Pacheco.
The 3,000 people who receive a voucher will have to return to the same Little Havana spot on December 16th and bring their voucher, a valid id and a social security card to pick up their baskets of food.
