Families near Palmetto Bay can pick up free fresh food and groceries Aug. 22 without leaving their cars.

Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez is partnering with Farm Share, Florida's largest independent food bank, to host a drive-thru food distribution at the Coral Reef Tax Collector Office, 14653 SW 122nd Ave. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

No registration or ID required

The announcement from the Tax Collector's office does not list a registration or ID requirement.

"Our offices are part of the communities we serve, and whenever we have an opportunity to open our doors and connect families with valuable resources, we should do it," Fernandez said in the announcement.

A mobile push beyond the tax office's usual services

The Coral Reef office, which normally handles services including vehicle registrations, driver licenses and property tax payments, sits near Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay. The event comes shortly after the start of Miami-Dade County Public Schools' 2026-27 school year, a time when families may be balancing back-to-school expenses with grocery costs.

Fernandez, Miami-Dade's first elected tax collector in more than six decades, has overseen an expansion of the office's service locations and launched TConnect, a mobile-office program that brings government services directly into communities across the county.

Saturday's food distribution extends that community-access effort beyond the Tax Collector's traditional services.

About Farm Share

Farm Share rescues surplus food from farmers and other providers and distributes fresh produce and other food at no cost to people in need. The organization says it distributed 112 million pounds of food during its 2024-25 fiscal year and works with nearly 2,000 partner agencies across Florida.

The Tax Collector's office has not said whether the Coral Reef distribution will become a recurring event.

Event details at a glance

  • What: Free drive-thru food distribution with fresh food and groceries
  • When: Saturday, Aug. 22, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • Where: Coral Reef Tax Collector Office, 14653 SW 122nd Ave., Miami, FL 33186
  • Cost: Free
  • Details: First-come, first-served while supplies last

More free events this week in Palmetto Bay