Thousands flocking to food-aid program

A program that helps some South Floridians cover food losses after Hurricane Irma is seeing high demand, drawing thousands.

For those who qualify, the program provides cards that can be redeemed for food at most grocery stores.

The Florida Disaster Food Assistance Program began Wednesday at seven sites in Broward and Miami-Dade counties and continues through Sunday. In Palm Beach County, three sites will open from Tuesday through Oct. 21.

“It’s going really well,” Paige Patterson-Hughes, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Children and Families, said Thursday. DCF is administering the program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Thursday, people driving anywhere near one of the program sites, C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines, were encountering gridlock. Police were intermittently closing the park entrance to control traffic.

Broward Parks and Recreation Director Dan West said the crowds were expected. A large turnout has been seen in other parts of the state where the program was offered. Wednesday at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach, about 3,000 people showed up to participate, he said.

“At the end of the day, it’s providing a great relief for the residents in Broward County,” West said. “People are very excited about getting some relief.”

People can pre-register online at myflfamilies.com/ fff, then go to one of the locations with their preregistration number.

The assistance cards are being distributed from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. In Broward, the program will last through Sunday at three locations:

C.B. Smith Park, 900 N. Flamingo Road, Pembroke Pines.

Central Broward Regional Park, 3801 W. Sunrise Blvd., Lauderhill.

Quiet Waters Park, 401 S. Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach.

In Palm Beach County, the program will begin next week, from Tuesday through Oct. 21, at three sites:

John Prince Memorial Park, 4759 S. Congress Ave., Lake Worth.

Lake Ida West Park, 1455 Lake Ida Road, Delray Beach.

Glades Pioneer Park, 866 SW 16th St., Belle Glade.

In Miami-Dade County, the program will last through Sunday at four sites:

South Government Center, 10710 SW 211th St., Miami.

Amelia Earhart Park, 401 E. 65th St., Hialeah.

Tropical Park, 7900 SW 40th St., Miami.

Miami-Dade College North, 11380 NW 27th Ave., Miami.

Wednesday at Quiet Waters Park, about 3,000 people showed up.

WAYNE K. ROUSTAN/STAFF Hundreds of cars lined up on Flamingo Road to enter C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines on Thursday for the food-assistance program.