We Floridians are used to hearing that our tropical climate doesn’t offer the seasonal diversity that those living in more temperate regions of the country enjoy. Phil, that prognosticating groundhog from Punxsutawney, Pa., isn’t talking to Floridians when he makes his annual prediction of when winter will end and spring will begin.
With Florida’s average of 237 days per year of sunshine, Johnny Nash’s lyric, “It’s gonna be a bright, bright, bright, bright sunshiny day,” may as well be the chorus of our state anthem.
Nevertheless, here at BHH, spring 2022 has lived up to its conventional definition as a season of new growth. Since the beginning of the year, we have continued on with growing the reach and impact of our programs.
Since opening our mobile pantry-bag distribution location at Proclaim Church in Lake Worth (formerly known as Advent Lantana) less than two years ago, we have seen rapid growth. Due to the increasing demand, we decided to start distributing hot meals there in February: the first time we’ve expanded that service outside of Boca Raton. The response to this new service has exceeded our expectations, and we are now providing hot meals to an average of 170 clients every Friday night from the surrounding Lantana and Lake Worth communities.
On the Job Training front, most of our graduates are quickly finding new jobs in today’s undersupplied job market. To continue increasing our program’s impact, we have been working to improve the effectiveness of the placement support that we provide to our job training clients. Since the start of the year, we have signed up five new corporate partners who have agreed to provide preferred employment opportunities to our graduates.
Another notable change was a recent return to our roots. We were overjoyed that after a two-year hiatus, we were once again able to host an in-person version of our signature MONOPOLY® Event and Casino Night on April 30. We are grateful to all of you who supported the event as a sponsor or as an attendee. In addition to helping fund our operations, that evening’s “Call to the Heart” solicited special support for ourBHH Backpacks weekend feeding program for children. Thanks to your contributions, we look forward to being able to grow that program beyond the record 1,500+ elementary students we have served during the 2021-22 school year.
Spring is indeed in the air at BHH, and this season of new growth is possible only because of the faithful support of you, our partners. We are grateful.
