TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – With the holidays quickly approaching, 1,500 families got free groceries Saturday with community support led by Second Harvest of the Big Bend. <\/p>\n
Attendee Oscar Williams said he was grateful for the event.<\/p>\n
\u201cTimes are tough, so we just came about 40 miles, got up early, and got over here in line,\u201d Williams said. He drove from South Georgia to get the boxes of groceries at Governor\u2019s Square Mall. \u201cRelieve some stress from us and make the holidays happier.\u201d <\/p>\n
Second Harvest of the Big Bend CEO Monique Ellsworth said people were in line as early as 9 p.m. Friday. The distribution officially kicked off at 7 a.m. Saturday. Ellsworth said hundreds of cars were lined up well before sunrise to get the groceries. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that the need is huge,\u201d Ellsworth said. \u201cThe pressure on families is greater right now than it is all year long.\u201d <\/p>\n
Also waiting in the line was Candy Crenshaw. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s definitely going to help me get through the winter break for my kids.\u201d <\/p>\n
Ellsworth said this time can be challenging because kids are not getting their daily meals at school during winter break. <\/p>\n
More Tallahassee news:<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir breakfast and lunch that is usually taken care of by the school system isn\u2019t available, so parents are buying extra just to care for their children during the holidays,\u201d Ellsworth said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThese drives are so important because even though some families don\u2019t qualify for food stamps because they make too much, doesn\u2019t mean we don\u2019t need it,\u201d Crenshaw said. <\/p>\n
It took just more than two hours to serve the 1,500 families. People received whole hams, milk, eggs, produce and non-perishable food items. <\/p>\n
Several volunteers from WCTV were also in attendance to help distribute food to families. Part of Saturday\u2019s event was made possible from community donations during WCTV\u2019s annual Kindness Day. <\/p>\n
To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> <\/a>and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n Copyright 2025 WCTV. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n