Six THOUSAND families line up in their cars for hours at a food bank in San Antonio as millions across the country turn to charity organizations to keep from going hungry during coronavirus lockdown(13 Pics)

The San Antonio Food Bank distributed one million pounds of food to roughly 6,000 families in a single day as millions across the country turn to charity organizations to avoid going hungry amid coronavirus lockdowns.   

Stunning aerial photos show thousands of cars lined up at Trader's Plaza in San Antonio during the massive food distribution event on Thursday.  

Families in need waited hours to get their hands on fresh fruit, vegetables and other non-perishable goods that have become hard to find in traditional stores as panic-buying leaves shelves empty. 

'The need is that great,' San Antonio Food Bank President and CEO Eric Cooper said of the huge turnout. 

'We are moving through food so fast, this is our second big distribution this week, but there are hundreds of distributions that are going on all the time.'

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Six thousand families lined up in their cars for hours at Traders Plaza in San Antonio for a food distribution event on Thursday 

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The San Antonio Food Bank said it distributed one million pounds of food over the course of the day

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People are seen standing by their cars as they waited in line for hours to get their hands on food and other essentials 

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Helpers Alisa Alonzo (left) and Jennifer Byrnes (right) gather bags of split peas to load into cars at Traders Village

The event dubbed 'Mega Giveaway' will be held twice a week for as long as stay-at-home orders are in place in the city, available to people who pre-register online. 

Thursday marked the fourth time they held the event - and the largest turnout yet.   

Michael Guerra, the food bank's chief resources officer, said 5,000 families signed up for the latest event, but even more showed up.   

Guerra said he expected each family to leave with enough food to last for the rest of the month - around two grocery carts full.

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Stunning aerial photos show rows of thousands of cars waiting in the line at Trader's Plaza in San Antonio

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Food bank staff wore masks and gloves as they distributed boxes into waiting cars 

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Each family left with enough food to fill two grocery carts, intended to last them the rest of the month

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Food bank volunteer Heather Martinez says goodbye to a family after filling their car with pantry items

Pete Delgado was among the thousands of people waiting in line on Thursday. 

He told FOX San Antonio he and his wife are both disabled and that he arrived at Trader's Plaza in the middle of the night to ensure that his family wouldn't go hungry. 

'I've been hour here for an easy 12 hours,' Delgado said. 

'And it's important for me and my wife because we have nothing to eat at home. I brought crackers and peanut butter as a snack to get me through the night. 

'We didn't have any bread or lunch meat or anything to make some kind of lunch, a picnic for me to stay overnight, so I've just been munching on peanut butter and jelly and crackers.'

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Cars began lining up in the parking lot as early as Wednesday night after about 5,000 families pre-registered for the event

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The line of cars extended outside the parking lot and into the street