When Boca Helping Hands asks for a donation, it’s usually in one of two forms – money or food.
Right now, BHH has a third need – land.
During the past year, the organization that provides food and financial aid to the homeless and needy has raised more than a million dollars for a new headquarters. The drive was buoyed by a $750,000 contribution from an anonymous donor.
“We’ve been looking for a piece of land; we can’t find one,” said Dave Freudenberg, president of the board of BHH.
One property deal fell through, he said. Now, the organization is back out looking for a plot.
He said BHH doesn’t need a large parcel. “We need about 15,000 square feet of land,” he said. “We are planning to put up a 7,000 square foot, two-story building, with parking.”
Executive Director Linda Gove, agreed, saying the land search had come up dry. It’s ironic, said Freudenberg, because Boca Helping Hands has been “very successful in fundraising and getting volunteers.” But apparently not in the land search market.
Currently, Boca Helping Hands serves noon meals at a church hall in Pearl City
Administrative officers are at another location.
“The construction of our new center will allow us to improve and expand the services that we offer to our clients,” said Gove. “It is our goal to create a job training program that will empower our underemployed and unemployed clients with essential skills that
will yield better paying jobs.”
She said the new facility will consolidate all services into a single location, and will include a cafeteria, marketplace, warehouse center, administrative offices and job assistance program. It will include the expansion of children’s services and the initiation of free medical and dental treatment.
“Donors and business leaders are making it clear that they believe in our vision for using this facility to improve the lives of the low-income and homeless in Boca Raton for the betterment of the community,” said Gary Peters, head of the BHH capital campaign.
For information about Helping Hands, call 561-417-0913 or visit bocahelpinghands@bellsouth.net. Donations can be made online at www.bocahelpinghands.org.
Dale M. King can be reached at 561-549-0832 or at dking@bocanews.com.