Boca Helping Hands recently expanded its food distribution schedule in Lake Worth as part of the organization’s hunger relief efforts in Palm Beach County.
Photo Courtesy of Boca Helping Hands
For the first time, the organization is serving weekly hot prepared
to-go meals to the Lake Worth community on Friday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Proclaim Church, 2116 Lantana Road, Lake Worth. This initiative is an extension of the organization’s six-day-a-week Hot Meal Program at its main facility in East Boca. The program is open to anyone and no identification is required.
This service was added due to the growing need within the community for hunger relief assistance. According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the area north of Lantana Road and east of I-95 is considered to be low income.
Since the expansion began on Feb. 25, 572 to-go meals have been distributed to families in need in Lake Worth. After seeing the need in the community firsthand, the Rev. Dr. Andrew D. Hagen, a BHH board member who previously served as the church’s pastor, offered the church’s facilities as an expansion site for the organization’s Hot Meal Program. With the help of a grant from his family’s foundation, the initiative was implemented last month.
“When the idea of adding a Hot Meal Program was offered to us, we were enthusiastic about continuing to assist hard-working families and financially challenged seniors,” Hagen says.
Proclaim Church also serves as one of five distribution locations for the organization’s Pantry Bag Program. In addition to Lake Worth, qualifying Palm Beach County residents living at or below the poverty level are eligible to receive pantry bags of groceries in East Boca Raton, West Boca Raton, Boynton Beach and Delray Beach, including non-perishable staples such as rice, pasta, beans, fresh seasonal produce and protein. Distribution at Proclaim Church in Lake Worth occurs on Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m.
For more information, visit bocahelpinghands.org.