U.S. Attorney’s Office food distribution events valued greatly by local residents

MIAMI – Two large tents, a dozen plastic tables, and staff members eager to serve recently lined an area in front of Wells Recreation Center in Riviera Beach, Fla. The goal? To feed 500 families. And it’s a goal the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Southern District of Florida meets each week.

It’s a partnership between Law Enforcement Coordination and Community Outreach Section (LEC/COS) staff, local police, parks and recreation, and Farm Share Inc., which provides the bread, canned goods, pasta, and poultry. Each Tuesday beginning at 9 a.m. all over the USAO footprint, these partners work to put food on the tables of those in need.

“The collaboration makes these distributions successful,” said LEC/COS Chief J.D. Smith. “And the parks/recreation centers provide a perfect backdrop. They are community staples, well known, with great access for local residents.”

Those who attend a food distribution can receive upward of 40 pounds of free food items depending on household size. And their appreciation shows at each food distribution.

“Bless you and thank you all for doing what you do,” said a grateful Riviera Beach resident. “We appreciate you.”

The positive feedback goes a long way with LEC/COS staff, reminding them how important these events are to the community.

“It feels good to know that we’re making a difference in so many peoples’ lives,” said Community Outreach Specialist Corey Mackay. “These food distributions are something I look forward to. I enjoy interacting with members of our community.”

The food drives alternate between parks in Riviera Beach and Fort Lauderdale to ones in several Miami locations. 

“We try to organize these food distributions in areas that have the most food insecurity,” said Smith. “We’ve been doing these for years and the demand has remained consistent. We’re honored to be able to host these events. Community service is what drives our unit. There is nothing more important.”

Anyone interested in volunteering at a food drive may call the USAO Violence Reduction Partnership at (305) 961-9134. People interested in attending a food distribution may visit Farm Share’s website at https://www.farmshare.org/food-distributions-florida or call (305) 246-3276.

Staff and volunteers from the Law Enforcement Coordination and Community Outreach Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office serve community members in Riviera Beach during a recent food distribution event. Staff hold these food distributions weekly, serving approximately 500 households.  

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