Feeding people has always been top of mind for Bob Freed, a restaurateur of 20 years. An active Red Cross volunteer in his retirement, Bob was looking for more ways to give back when a friend introduced him to Boca Helping Hands.
Bob’s interest in community work began in 2001 following the Sept. 11 attacks. The restaurant he and his wife owned at the time, the Yardley Inn, in Yardley, Pa. hosted a fundraising event to benefit the construction of the Garden of Reflection memorial in town, arranged by family members of the victims.
“That was when I began seeking out ways to help out in my community,” Bob said. After selling his restaurant in 2019 and permanently moving to Boca, he felt he needed to spend his time doing something impactful.
Bob now spends three days a week volunteering in the BHH warehouse, organizing food and packing pantry bags. “Every once in a while, I’ll walk out to the drive thru and watch cars get loaded with bags the team assembled,” Bob said. “It’s satisfying to see the work we did from start to finish.”
One of the things that surprised Bob was the number of people needing assistance in what’s viewed as an affluent community. “I didn’t think there was this degree of need,” he said. “It was eye opening, after 15 years living in Boca part time.”
Bob is committed to the work he does at BHH and feels at odds with himself if he misses a shift or takes a long vacation. He looks forward to many more years volunteering, meeting new people and serving his community. “I have fond memories volunteering here,” he said. “It’s all so rewarding.”
