Food Crisis Hits Home

Boca Helping Hands is struggling to keep up with food demand as inflation squeezes budgets and their volunteer force dwindles. With gas prices continuing to rise, shortages at the grocery store and the cost of commodity goods increasing, Boca Helping Hands has seen an uptick in demand for their hunger relief services. In addition, many of the organization’s regular volunteers are migrating back north, and college students are heading home for the summer, causing a volunteer shortage.

In April, Boca Helping Hands fed 10,365 individuals, distributed 7,162 pantry bags of groceries at five Palm Beach County locations and provided 6,761 hot lunches. Since December 2021, the organization has seen increases of 18% in demand for pantry bags and 10% for its to-go hot meals.

With inflation at a four-decade high, households feel the pinch to get by. This has resulted in more people needing help to make ends meet.

Boca Helping Hands is not excluded from the effects of the current economic strains. As a result, the organization has had to meet the extra demand by purchasing food to supplement food donations.

“Surging food prices and supply chain issues are affecting all areas of our hunger relief programs,” says Executive Director Greg Hazle. “With increased prices, our clients’ dollar stretches less at the grocery store, so they rely on us more. Unfortunately, that means Boca Helping Hands is buying more food at the same time that food prices are higher.”

For more information, visit bocahelpinghands.org.