Food Donations for Boca Helping Hands Have Decreased by 40%

Boca Helping Hands, which provides food to the underserved, has received 40% fewer year to date donations of food, with a cost deficit of nearly $1.1 million ($1,078,000). As of March 1, 2024, the organization had received 1.4 million pounds of food, as compared with 866,000 pounds of food by March 1 of this year, a drop of 40 percent.

Boca Helping Hands’ year to date USDA commodities food donations have been reduced by 100,000 pounds as of March 1.   Fresh produce from area farms is down 150,000 pounds, in part due to pauses in grant dollars to the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative.

Boca Helping Hands (BHH) is a community-based nonprofit in Palm Beach County, Florida that provides food, medical, and financial assistance to help individuals and families improve their quality of life and build financial stability. Through its various programs, BHH assists nearly 35,000 people annually. 

“The demand for our services and food has greatly increased since pre-Covid, due to the higher cost of living.  Our donations, however, have fallen by 40%,” said Gregory Hazle, Executive Director for Boca Helping Hands.  “Donations tend to fall even more during the summer months.  Food drives, conducted by individuals, businesses, places of worship and the like, are tremendously helpful in feeding local families in need.”

To donate food, please reach out to Bill Harper at [email protected]or call 561-417-0913.