With gas prices continuing to rise, shortages at the grocery store, and the cost of commodity goods increasing, Boca Helping Hands has seen an uptick in demand for their hunger relief services. In addition, many of the organization’s regular volunteers are migrating back north, and college students are heading home for the summer, causing a volunteer shortage.
In April, Boca Helping Hands fed 10,365 individuals, distributed 7,162 pantry bags of groceries at five Palm Beach County locations, and provided 6,761 hot lunches. Since December 2021, the organization has seen increases of 18% in demand for pantry bags and 10% for its to-go hot meals.
With inflation at a four-decade high, households feel the pinch to get by. According to the Labor Department’s most recent consumer-price index, the price of food at grocery stores in March was 10% higher than a year earlier. This has resulted in more people needing help to make ends meet.
Boca Helping Hands is not excluded from the effects of the current economic strains. As a result, the organization has had to meet the extra demand by purchasing food to supplement the donations that come from our partners and community food drives. The need to purchase food has increased significantly in the past year.
“Surging food prices and supply chain issues are affecting all areas of our hunger relief programs. We’re purchasing food to supplement our supply of donated food, and wholesale prices have increased,” said Greg Hazle, Executive Director of Boca Helping Hands. “With increased prices, our clients’ dollar stretches less at the grocery store, so they rely on us more. Unfortunately, that means Boca Helping Hands is buying more food at the same time that food prices are higher.”
Supply chain issues, lower inventory, and labor shortages have impacted the organization’s hunger relief programs across the board. In addition, as people flock back north, the food donations are even lower in the summertime. As a result, the organization encourages residents to host food drives at their schools, places of worship, or workplaces.
Another operational challenge in feeding those in the community is the decline in the number of volunteers. In the last two months, the organization has seen a decrease of 20% to its volunteer group and expects a total decline of 30% by the beginning of June. BHH is in critical need of additional volunteer support at multiple service locations and roles.
Individual Volunteer Opportunities:
East Boca
• Monday - Saturdays (8:30 am - 12:30 pm)
- Food Center – Making sandwiches
- Warehouse – Packing pantry bags of food, packing meat and produce, packing meals for children in summer camp
•Monday - Saturday (8:00 am - 12:30 pm)
- Kitchen – Prepping food for the hot meal program
• Thursday (1:00 pm - 4:00 pm)
- Kitchen – Prepping food for the hot meal program
• Thursday (4:00 pm - 6:00 pm)
- Pantry Bag Distribution – assisting with distributing groceries in the drive-thru car line
• Friday (1:00 pm - 4:00 pm)
- Kitchen – Prepping food for the hot meal program
Boynton Beach
• Monday (9:30 am - 12:00 pm)
- Pantry Bag Distribution – assisting with distributing groceries in the drive-thru car line
• Tuesday (9:30 am - 12:00 pm)
- Pantry Bag Distribution – assisting with distributing groceries in the drive-thru car line
• Wednesday (12:30 pm - 2:30 pm)
- Pantry Bag Distribution – assisting with distributing groceries in the drive-thru car line
Delray
• Thursday (2:30 pm - 5:00 pm)
- Pantry Bag Distribution – assisting with distributing groceries in the drive-thru car line
Group Volunteer Opportunities:
• Monday - Friday (1:00 pm - 3:00 pm)
- Warehouse – Packing meals for children in summer camp or packing meat and produce
To donate, visit BocaHelpingHands.org/Donate. To volunteer, visit BocaHelpingHands.org/Volunteer. To host a food drive and download a list of most needed items, visit BocaHelpingHands.org/FoodDrives.
