Boca Helping Hands Seeks Community Support to Feed 24,000 People for Thanksgiving Amid Rising Food Insecurity

Boca Helping Hands is seeking support from the community to distribute meals to families for Thanksgiving through its 21st annual Thanksgiving Box Brigade program. The initiative provides a turkey and a box filled with everything a family needs to prepare a holiday meal, aiming to feed approximately 24,000 people. Members of the community can get involved by donating the cost of a box for $29.72 at bocahelpinghands.org/thanksgiving.

The need for hunger relief programs in Palm Beach County has intensified due to rising food costs, housing expenses, and stagnant wages. According to the 2024 Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) Report for Florida, 46% of Palm Beach County households struggled to make ends meet, with 12% of those living below the Federal Poverty Level and 35% earning above the Federal Poverty Level but not enough to afford the most basic budget. One in nine people in Palm Beach County are struggling to put food on the table, highlighting the critical nature of this community support effort.

Bob Kriensky, an east Boca Raton sponsor, emphasized the importance of the program, stating that he and his wife Anita recognize the difficulties many families are experiencing and are proud to support the Thanksgiving Box Brigade again this year. Other supporters include Dalfen Industrial as the Overall Sponsor, Humana as the West Boca Sponsor, Purity Wholesale Grocers Inc. as the Boynton Beach Sponsor, Vertical Bridge Charitable Network as the Delray Beach Sponsor, and Avalon Bay Communities as the Lake Worth Sponsor.

Boca Helping Hands will distribute the turkeys and Thanksgiving meal boxes to current Pantry Bag Program clients the weekend before Thanksgiving at its five drive-thru distribution locations in east Boca Raton, west Boca, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, and Lake Worth. Executive Director Andrew Hagen expressed deep appreciation for the community's annual support through food drives and Thanksgiving box donations, noting that this assistance enables families who might not otherwise afford celebrations to share a holiday meal together.

Despite tremendous community support for the Thanksgiving Box Brigade program, food insecurity remains a persistent problem year-round, particularly with recent reductions in funding for food assistance programs. Any contributions that exceed Thanksgiving expenses will be used toward the organization's food programs throughout the year, helping to support the 181,000 families in Palm Beach County facing food insecurity. The program represents a critical intervention during a time when many households are experiencing increased financial pressure and limited resources for basic necessities.