CROS Ministries,(Christians Reaching Out to Society, Inc.) is a Lake Worth-based nonprofit whose mission is to serve the hungry in Palm Beach and Martin Counties through community collaborations. In 1998, CROS Ministries opened its doors to a young Boca Helping Hands under the umbrella of their 501(c)(3). CROS’ Caring Kitchen hot meal program in Delray Beach, provided the blueprint from which BHH was built.
“BHH began as a program of CROS,” said Ruth Mageria, former CROS Ministries’ Volunteer Coordinator and the organization’s current Executive Director. “CROS provided staff to assist with volunteer management, training, and program structure during the first few years of operation,” she said. “Every Saturday morning, I would be at BHH which was housed at Friendship Baptist Church, overseeing the volunteers as they prepared and served meals.”
Ruth shared that it was a joy to work with then CROS Board Director Carolyn Jones, who was instrumental in getting BHH off the ground. Carolyn had seen a letter discussing the need for a program to feed the hungry in Boca and she responded with passion and enthusiasm. “The volunteers at BHH wanted to make sure that people in their community, (Boca), were getting the help they needed,” Ruth said.
The Advisory Board of Boca Helping Hands later filed for incorporation in 2000, after which BHH became its own entity. “The relationship that CROS and BHH continue to have today is one of collaboration,” Ruth said. Now, the two agencies work together to fill hunger-relief service gaps within Palm Beach County.
Boca Helping Hands couldn’t have gotten to where it is today without the help and guidance that CROS Ministries provided in its early years. The partnership between the two agencies is a testament to their shared commitment to the community.
We look forward to another 25 years working toward the same goal together!
