ARENA, STADIUM TO HOST IRMA FOOD STAMP OFFER

Two of South Florida’s largest sporting venues will be used to distribute Hurricane Irma food assistance after crowds overwhelmed county parks earlier this month.

The BB&T Center in Sunrise and Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens will serve as sign-up locations Nov. 7-9 for Food for Florida relief efforts.

The program — a joint effort of the state and federal governments — offers assistance to people who suffered damage and income loss during Hurricane Irma but don’t normally get food stamps.

Those who qualify receive cards with anywhere from a few hundred dollars to more than $1,000 that can be used to buy food. Payments depend on family size, storm loss and income.

Officials with the Florida Department of Children and Fam-

ilies encourage people to register online in advance of the signup events to expedite service. The in-person sign-ups will run from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Crowds overwhelmed several sites during sign-up events from Oct. 11-15 in South Florida. Traffic snarled roads. Lines reached into thousands, and officials reported people fainted from waiting hours in the hot sun. Law enforcement ordered all three of Broward’s sites at Central Broward, C.B. Smith and Quiet Waters parks closed during the last day of sign-ups because of public safety concerns. One of Miami-Dade’s four sites also had to be closed. An estimated 50,000 people lined up at Tropical Park.

DCF officials say they are working closely with law enforcement, the United Way, the Red Cross and venue management for the make-up days.

The BB&T Center — the home of the Florida Panthers hockey team — has a seating capacity for about 20,000 people. At the request of the Sunrise Police Department, bags or personal items larger than 12-by-12 inches, backpacks, coolers and chairs are not permitted, DCF officials said.

Hard Rock Stadium, where the Miami Dolphins play, is even larger with seating for 65,000. The stadium will maintain its policy only allowing clear bags to be taken inside the venue, officials said.

Food for Florida is operated by the state, but the benefits are funded by the federal government.

More than 6,000 people have been assigned to the effort, including 1,500 temporary workers, according to state officials.

More than 2 million Floridians have received special Hurricane Irma food assistance, totaling $745 million in benefits, the state reports.