In February, Boca Helping Hands expanded its food distribution schedule in Lake Worth as part of our efforts to assist more people with hunger relief in Palm Beach County.
BHH is now serving weekly to-go meals to the Lake Worth community on Friday evenings at Proclaim Church. This initiative is an extension of our six-day-a-week Hot Meal Program at our main facility in East Boca.
The 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, only a half-mile from the Lake Worth distribution site, is considered to be low income. This means the poverty rate is 20% or greater, or the median family income is less than or equal to 80% of the statewide median family income.
Since the expansion began, more than 1,300 to-go meals have been distributed to families in need in Lake Worth. After seeing the need in the community first hand, 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 our Hot Meal Program. With the help of a grant from his family’s foundation, the initiative was implemented. “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 said.
Proclaim Church also serves as one of five distribution locations for BHH'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 nonperishable staples such as rice, pasta, beans, fresh seasonal produce, and protein.
“We have been able to expand the footprint of our hunger-relief efforts largely through the support of our partners in the faith community, who have made their facilities available to us,” said Greg Hazle, Boca Helping Hands’ Executive Director. “Our partnership with Proclaim Church has been a critical factor in successfully serving the greater Lake Worth community since June 2020.”
To help those who may need further assistance, BHH has partnered with the Palm Beach County Food Bank to help individuals in this community sign up for federal and state benefits such as SNAP (food stamps) and Medicaid. The goal is to help
individuals who may not have access to a computer or need assistance navigating the intricate application process. Since the start of the Benefits Outreach Program at Proclaim Church last June, 190 people have been registered.
In addition to receiving hot meals and pantry bags of groceries, Lake Worth residents may also be eligible for emergency financial assistance with rent and utilities, partial reimbursement for childcare expenses, and healthcare vouchers through the BHH Resource Center.
