On any Saturday morning in the parking lot of the Boynton Beach Mall in Florida, hundreds of drivers line up in their cars, eager for a meal.
“These are regular people. They have jobs,” Charles Bender told Fox News Digital. “They don't succeed.”
Bender is the founding CEO of Place of Hope, a faith-based organization that provides programs and services to people Children and families In five Florida counties.
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“Every Saturday of the month, we serve families in desperate need of food and Food supplies “That's a big number,” Bender said. “So, we're there every Saturday and just try to meet their needs.”
The initiative began earlier this year. After about three months, the Hope site has served more than 1 million pounds, Bender said Of food.
Vehicles make their way through Place of Hope's food distribution line in the parking lot of Boynton Beach Mall in Florida. (Peter Burke/Fox News Digital)
During December, this number rose to more than 2 million.
Place of Hope volunteers meet for a few hours every Saturday morning to supply essentials to those waiting Food and drink – All for free.
“There is no pre-screening,” Bender said. “These are just people in need…and the volunteers are there to load their cars with donated goods.”
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Donated items come from area businesses, grocery stores like Publix and Trader Joe's and even the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bender said.
“We're talking Solid, nutritious meals “For families – produce, meat, chicken, all kinds of different things, some canned foods.”
Volunteers sort bags of food before the event begins. People line up in their cars for full meals, including produce and meat. (Peter Burke/Fox News Digital)
On a Saturday in late September, volunteers were sorting through donation items that had been unloaded from refrigerator trucks and containers.
Among the donated foods and drinks are cucumbers, pumpkins, potatoes and meat, Bread, cheese, milk and juice. There was even baby food.
Before the line opened, volunteers gathered around the priest who led them In prayer. Then it's time to go to work.
The pastor leads the volunteers in prayer before opening the line. (Peter Burke/Fox News Digital)
Volunteers work assembly line style, filling each open box with breakfast, lunch and dinner foods, plus water and milk. Soft drinksas vehicles slowly make their way along each designated stop.
It takes about two and a half minutes from start to finish.
Vehicles often line up before sunrise — hours before distribution begins — just to secure a spot.
A volunteer loads some cheese into the trunk of a car in line. (Peter Burke/Fox News Digital)
“People are hurting,” Bender said.
“Who wants to wait in line for food on Saturday? But if you have to, you'll do it.”
Hot dogs and sausages sit on a table ready to be loaded into vehicle trunks. (Peter Burke/Fox News Digital)
The first driver to successfully cross the line on Saturday identified himself as Mike, and declined to give his last name.
He told Fox News Digital that he is disabled and was grateful to Place of Hope for offering a helping hand.
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“I thank God they do that,” he said. “It's a good thing they do. It really helps a lot.”
A man who was in the front row during one of the food distributions told Fox News Digital he was grateful for the help. (Peter Burke/Fox News Digital)
The great-grandfather described it as a “blessing.”
Place of Hope doesn't just feed families on Saturdays.
The organization also provides meals throughout the week to foster families in the area.
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“It's just good people coming together to meet this need,” Bender said.
This need is most evident on a Saturday morning in a sparse mall parking lot.
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“These are regular people from all walks of life (who) just need a little extra help, because four years ago, it didn't seem like that,” Bender said.
“I didn't feel that way.”
