Desperate for help, people face 6-hour wait at Oxnard food distribution

OXNARD, Calif. (KABC) -- "It's hard. Like, I cry almost every night."

These days, Toni Elorza weeps over the struggle to simply feed her two children.

"Crying, but there's nothing I can do," she admits. "They come first, they need to eat first."

Like many others desperate for help, Elorza waited in extremely long lines Wednesday to get a box of food at the Ventura County drive-through food distribution in Oxnard.

Click here to donate or text "FEEDSOCAL" to 41444

"I'm on social security," said Chantal, another woman we met as she waited in her car.

Chantal said food pantries are a lifeline for her, and she's grateful for food drives like this one. She can't fathom not being able to get such needed help.

"I don't know what I would do," Chantal said. "I really don't know."

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As hundreds of cars lined up for food, volunteers on a mission with Food Share of Ventura County were rolling up their sleeves to fight hunger.

Food Share is the largest hunger relief organization in Ventura County. Drew West is just one of the many angels in the organization.

"It pains me," West said. "We have thousands of neighbors behind me, sitting in their cars since eight o'clock this morning so that they can come through this line, two o'clock this afternoon, just to get enough food to make it through the week."

Ester, who was also in line to get food, said she was thinking of others who might be starving because there are no food drives in their area.

"My heart is like, it's hard to think that they can't even buy food," Ester said.

Every box given out Wednesday was filled with healthy treats and more.

"Our neighbors are going to get a beautiful box of produce that has been packed by our volunteers," Food Share president Monica White said.

"They're also going to get a watermelon, they're going to get milk that we're keeping covered here so it stays cold, and I believe they're getting fish sticks today, as well."

Mazi sums up this food giveaway perfectly.

"People helping people," Mazi said. "That's what it is, and sharing."

Our 15th annual ABC7 Feed SoCal Food Drive is underway now.

If you would like to help our neighbors in need, click here to donate to Food Share of Ventura County. You can also text "FEEDSOCAL" to 41444.

Your gift of $25 today will unlock 100 meals for people in need in your neighborhood.