Organizations collected critical supplies for Hurricane Ian victims at the Dolphin Mall Monday.

SWEETWATER, Fla. – More than 600 cars lined up Monday morning nearly two hours before a food distribution kicked off in Sweetwater. The food giveaway at Vann Academy got started 45 minutes early due to the large crowd. The giveaway is the result of a partnership between Sweetwater Mayor Orlando Lopez, Florida State Rep. Ana Maria Rodriguez, Miami-Dade Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz and Farm Share. “We’re doing this to be able to alleviate some of the burdens that everyone has in their house right now,” Lopez said. It’s our way to make sure that we give back.”The food distribution ended around 10:40 a.m. when they ran out of food.

Later Monday afternoon, a steady stream of cars flowed into Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School for a student meal distribution. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to loom, the number of people who need food is rising. If the numbers tell the story of need in Miami-Dade County, they’re perhaps most striking at the schools. The week of March 16-20, Miami-Dade County Public Schools distributed 222,518 meals across all its district schools. WHERE TO GO: Miami-Dade County Public Schools student meal distribution sites