MEETING BACK ON THE BOOKS. WITH THE LATEST HERE IN MIAMI, I’M ANDREW PEREZ LOSHGS, LOCAL
NEWS.
>> WE’VE BEEN SHARING THE
STORIES OF LOCAL HUNGER RELIEF
ORGANIZATIONS.
>> TONIGHT AS PART OF OUR DAY
OF GIVING, WE’RE TELLING YOU
ABOUT ANOTHER TERRIFIC SPECIAL
ORGANIZATION.
HELLO, GUYS.
>> THE SUN SHINES BRIGHTLY
UPON THIS PAVILION IN
OPA-LOCKA.
WHERE A FOOD DISTRIBUTION
ORGANIZED BY Make-A-Wish
VETERANS IS TAKING PLACE.
>> I HAVE 120 ON THE SENIOR
PROGRAM FOR TODAY.
IT’S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO ME
TO SEE MORE.
I GET JOY OUT OF THAT.
>> PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY BY CAR, BIKE
AND ON FOOT.
DISTANCE NOT A DETERRENT WHEN
IT COMES TO PUTTING FOOD ON
THE TABLE.
VIETNAM VETERAN MILTON SMITH
WILL TELL YOU Make-A-Wish
VETERANS IS A LIFESAVER.
>> IT HELPS ME.
AND I CAN HELP OTHERS.
>> BUT AS PICTURESQUE AND
IDEAL AS THIS SETTING MAY
SEEM, IT’S NOWHERE NEAR WHAT
IT WAS LIKE BACK HOME.
SINCE 2011, Make-A-Wish HAD
BEEN OPERATING OUT OF THE
OUTREACH CENTER ON ALIBABA
AVENUE.
BUT THE NON-PROFIT WAS FORCED
TO CLOSE ITS DOORS THIS SUMMER
AFTER THE BUILDING WAS SOLD.
WEEKLY FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS NOW
REDUCED TO TWICE A MONTH.
AND THE VARIETY OF FOOD THEY
CAN OFFER IS DRAMATICALLY
DIFFERENT.
>> IT’S HARD.
RIGHT NOW, OUR THINGS ARE IN
STORAGE.
>> IT’S WHY THIS ORGANIZATION,
FOUNDED BY VETERANS AND
SERVING VETERANS NEEDS YOUR
HELP THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AND
BEYOND.
Make-A-Wish VETERANS HAS A BIG
WISH, ONE IT HOPES KINDHEARTED
SOUTH FLORIDIANS CAN FULFILL.
>> I HOPE, I PRAY SOMEBODY’S
HEART WILL OPEN, BE TOUCHED
AND SOMEBODY’S EYES WILL OPEN
AND THEIR HEART BE TOUCHED
THAT SOMEBODY CAN HELP US OUT
WITH A FACILITY OR FUNDING.
WE REALLY, REALLY NEED THAT.
>> YOU ALL HAVE A BLESSED DAY.
>> YOU TOO.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY,
WHEN YOU PUT IT OUT THERE, YOU
MAKE A PRAYER, GOD, THE
UNIVERSE LISTENS TO YOU AND
MAKES IT HAPPEN.
YOU BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE OF SOUTH
FLORIDA, YOU MADE THIS HAPPEN.
WE ALMOST HAVE TWO PALETTES
FULL OF FOOD, BETTY.
PRINCESS, WHAT’S OUR TOTAL
RIGHT NOW?
>> 1780 POUNDS OF FOOD.
>> 1780 POUNDS OF FOOD.
INCREDIBLE.
>> AND WE’RE MAKING IT RAIN IN
OTHER WAYS WITH SOME CASH
COMING IN, TOO.
>> THE CASH TOTAL IS $521.
>> $521.
YOU GUYS ARE TOAST, CALVIN.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOUR GRAND
TOTAL IS, WE’VE ALREADY BEAT
THAT.
>> WE’RE DOING IT BIG TIME
HERE IN MIAMI SHORES.
>> GOTTA GO BIG.
GOBBLE, GOBBLE, GO BIG.
>> SO MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN
OUT HERE REALLY WANTING TO BE
A PART OF THIS AND SOMETHING
AMAZING HAPPENING, LOUIS.
>> YOU FEEL IT, IT’S
INFECTIOUS.
PEOPLE COMING WITH CARTS FULL
OF FOOD.
JUST GIVING US THE BOUNTY OF
THEIR GENEROSITY.
WE’LL TAKE YOUR FOOD, WE’LL
TAKE YOUR MONEY.
[laughter]
>> HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL THE
WAY AROUND.
>> IT IS A HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
>> THERE’S A LOT GOING ON
THERE.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, ON THE
RECORD, WE ACTUALLY DON’T KNOW
HOW MUCH, BECAUSE WE LOST
COUNT.
THAT’S HOW MUCH CAME IN.
LET’S RELAX A LITTLE BIT ON
WHO WON.
>> MAYTE PADRON IS KEEPING A
GRAND TOTAL.
WE’LL FIND OUT AT THE END OF
THIS DAY WHO WON.
>> REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THE
SUCCESS IN PINES, HOLLYWOOD,
MIAMI SHORES, ALL ACROSS SOUTH
FLORIDA.
>> EVERYBODY’S A WINNER.
>> EVERYBODY’S A WINNER.
>> SOUTH FLORIDA WINS, SOUTH