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MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA. Luxury hotels and fancy taverns take turns. The sea shines seductively.
In the midst of this abundance, people at risk of starvation come to collect food parcels in an open parking lot.
Even before eight in the morning, a mile-long traffic jam flies down Colins Avenue in Miami Beach. The queue comes to a complete stop and only gets longer and longer. Food delivery doesn’t open until 9pm, but to make sure they get their ration, people arrive early.
It is enough to look at the cars to understand that this is not an American working class that already in normal cases survives only from salary to salary. A late-model white Range Rover drives to get his fill.
They are people who lived well until the corona pandemic, had high-paying jobs, and had no problem putting food on the table. Now they have removed the carpet from under your feet. In the United States, there is not much in the economic safety net.
The Trump administration has sent a check for $ 1,200 to all Americans. Otherwise, most people get the best they can.
Photo: Jerker Ivarsson
Dorothy picks up the produce at the food delivery.
Like Dorothy, who has been driving in her dark gray minivan with her mother in the passenger seat and the two children in the back.
– My husband lost his job as an air conditioning technician three months ago, he says behind the white mouthguard. Since then, we have had no income of any kind. So this food aid is truly a blessing. I don’t know how we could feed our children in any other way.
Drive slowly forward with the tailgate open from one food station to another. Cartons, bags or cans are loaded on each table.
Everyone wears a mask
When your car has passed the entire row, the tailgate is full of food. Lastly, bring in a bag of fresh fruits and vegetables.
– We receive some money from relatives in the Bahamas, but this food is really our lifeline.
Mathjälpen is organized by local civic organizations. Food is donated by major food distributors. About 20 volunteers help with the dividend. Everyone wears a mask despite the heat.
Photo: Jerker Ivarsson.
The cars are full.
Tim Carr has volunteered almost every Saturday since Food Aid began in March-April, when the corona pandemic shut down large sections of the community in Florida and many other states in the United States.
– Most of the people who come here have never needed food aid before. It’s very tragic that it is necessary, but many have gone from a good monthly salary to no income. They are more or less helpless.
Not many words are said, although Tim acknowledges that many need help repeatedly.
– Many are ashamed to have to come here but express great gratitude.
Tim Carr’s gray and white striped tee is completely dark with sweat stains. It’s almost 30 degrees outside and the sun gasps relentlessly.
He has nothing good to say about President Trump’s handling of the crown pandemic.
A tragedy
– It was a tragedy from start to finish. Very spasmodic and completely disorganized. I know people who work in the hospitals here who have told me how they were allowed to put people on a respirator but did not have any medication to ease their anxiety.
During the summer months, the spread of the infection decreased in Florida.
But now it’s on the rise again and I’m afraid hospitals will soon be full of sick people again as Trump completely wrongly claims that the worst is over.
I ask him if he thinks that the handling of the pandemic will be decisive for the presidential elections.
Think briefly before the answer comes.
– I let the voters answer that question, but I think we will see a very strong and clear message.
Delivery takes place on the principle of the conveyor belt. The driver never has to get out of his car. When he finishes at a place, he is greeted and at the terminal, the car takes a definite blow to the tailgate as a sign that it is time to drive.
Photo: Jerker Ivarsson
The food is distributed on an assembly line.
Every car has a large coupon embedded inside the windshield wipers. They have received the vouchers when they can show they need food assistance. Some have multiple coupons. This means that you collect food for several families. Not everyone can afford a car anymore.
Empty hotel
Among the food handlers on this day is Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber in a stained white T-shirt.
– You have to help everyone, justify your presence. Here in Miami Beach, more people have lost their jobs. We have 90,000 inhabitants but every year ten million tourists visit us. Now comes just a fraction of these. The hotels are empty and the restaurants have no guests.
The entire distribution area is cordoned off with yellow police tape and several police cars are strategically located to intervene in the event of a fight. But everything is going smoothly.
In recent times, the US economy has recovered somewhat, but Tim Carr does not see a reduction in the number of families that come for help each week.
– We will stay here until there is a vaccine that allows people to go back to living as usual.
Wolfgang Hansson and Jerker Ivarsson from Aftonbladet.
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