Its 17th annual Thanksgiving Box Brigade program, which provides a turkey and a box filled with everything a family needs to prepare a holiday meal, will feed nearly 3,000 families. Members of the community can get involved by donating the cost of a box for $27.15 at BocaHelpingHands.org/Thanksgiving.
Prior to the pandemic, Boca Helping Hands typically distributed about 2,000 turkeys and Thanksgiving meal boxes each year. In 2020, BHH expanded to four locations and distributed a record 2,700 turkeys to local families, including to many new families who registered for food assistance due to COVID-19. This year, almost 3,000 families have registered to receive turkeys and meal boxes, including at a new fifth location in Delray Beach.
“We are so grateful to the community each year for their food drives and Thanksgiving box donations,” said Executive Director Greg Hazle. “Their generosity means that people who would not otherwise be able to sit down for a holiday meal can enjoy one with their family.”
Long-time supporter ADT will be providing volunteers at the main East Boca location, as well as financial support for the 2021 Box Brigade. “At ADT, we are a purpose-driven company that believes in serving our communities,” said Bob Tucker, Director of Corporate Affairs at ADT. “We are pleased to partner with Boca Helping Hands to ensure local families will have a happy Thanksgiving this year.” Other Thanksgiving Box Brigade supporters include Robert and Anita Kriensky, Phoenix Tower International, AvalonBay Communities, Boca Raton Airport Authority and the Town of Palm Beach United Way.
Boca Helping Hands will distribute the turkeys and Thanksgiving meal boxes to current Pantry Bag Program clients the weekend before Thanksgiving (Nov. 20 and 21) at its five drive-thru distribution locations in east Boca Raton, west Boca, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, and Lantana/Lake Worth.
Although there has been tremendous community support for the Thanksgiving Box Brigade program, food insecurity remains a problem year-round. Due to current food shortages and supply chain disturbances, Boca Helping Hands is currently having to purchase more food than ever before to supplement its food recovery efforts. As consumer food prices continue to climb, they expect that more families will need to utilize their pantry bags of groceries and hot meal program to help make ends meet.
To help, please visit BocaHelpingHands.org/Thanksgiving and donate the cost of a Thanksgiving box. Any contributions that exceed Thanksgiving expenses will be used to provide food throughout the year, helping to support the 181,000 families in Palm Beach County facing food insecurity.
