Already several weeks into the new partnership with the Boca Helping Hands organization, Daniels and the others who greet drivers each Wednesday afternoon in the church’s parking lot on Seacrest Boulevard are becoming more familiar with the process.
Himself a volunteer along with Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Jovan T. Davis and six to eight members of the congregation, the dedicated workers brave the heat and humidity to load vitally needed essentials into the trunks of the 30 or so vehicles that line up long before the 1 p.m. start of the distribution.
“We are so excited to participate in this (expansion),” said Daniels, the chief of staff at St. John Missionary Baptist Church. “This is a great partnership with a great organization.”
Gloria Guthrie, a parishioner there for nearly two decades, was among those assisting with registration and procedures on this particular Wednesday. She has been doing so since the first vehicle came through the lot back in April.
“It’s in my spirit to be helpful and caring; that’s what I love to do,” said Guthrie, who directed traffic and gathered information from each driver with a welcoming personality. “Just to see the looks on their faces and know how much they appreciate our efforts is so gratifying.”
Guthrie said she feels blessed to be able to be a part of this special workforce.
“Everyone who is out there working has the same mission, and to be part of that love and compassion is wonderful,” she said.
St. John Missionary Baptist Church has been through a difficult year since the pandemic forced the closure of its food pantry operation.
“It was a tough situation for them,” said Bill Harper, Boca Helping Hands’ director of food and warehouse operations. “So when they reopened their pantry, they approached me about possibly having Boca Helping Hands partner with them. It turned out to be a perfect match.”
The Wednesday distribution, which takes place from 1 to 2:30 p.m., is in addition to Boca Helping Hands’ four-days-a-week morning schedule (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to noon) at the First Baptist Church of Boynton Beach, also on Seacrest Boulevard.
“As word gets out that we have added Wednesday afternoons at St. John Missionary, I’m sure the 30-plus vehicles that are already coming there will significantly increase,” Harper said.
Daniels said he is appreciative of the assistance by Boca Helping Hands in both the weekly food distribution and getting the church pantry back up and running.
“We are learning as we go, but we have a great relationship with Bill (Harper) and the Boca Helping Hands team and our volunteers are more than willing to step up,” he said.
The food distribution isn’t the only impact the Boca Helping Hands expansion into Boynton Beach is having on the community.
“The establishment of Boca Helping Hands’ footprint to the north (in Boynton Beach) prompted the decision to expand the financial assistance program for utilities, rent and the Children’s Assistance Program,” Trina Chin Cheong, director of programs at Boca Helping Hands, said in a statement.
As part of this overall endeavor, Boynton Beach’s uninsured and economically disadvantaged receive medical, dental and behavioral healthcare vouchers redeemable at Genesis Community Health on South Federal Highway. Already this year, Boca Helping Hands has distributed about 200 vouchers.
To further support the Boynton Beach community, Boca Helping Hands has joined the Heart of Boynton Social Service Alliance, a group of agencies coordinating resources to provide a safety net for those trying to navigate the road to COVID-19 recovery.
The brainchild of Sherry Johnson-Frew, program director at the Boynton Beach Faith Based Community Development Corporation, the Alliance will work to prevent evictions and foreclosures, provide emergency and flexible financial aid, identify resources for mental health education and family caregiving, and provide job training classes and assistance with job placement.
“Building productive partnerships — like with the Heart of Boynton Social Service Alliance — is part of our strategy to maximize our impact in the communities we serve,” said Boca Helping Hands Executive Director Greg Hazle.
Boynton Beach residents can also benefit from Boca Helping Hands’ free English as a Second Language classes as well as courses in nutrition and other life skills. Staff and volunteer mentors also counsel the unemployed and underemployed in basic workplace skills and help them polish resumes and search for jobs.
