Causes: Congregate Meals, Employment Preparation & Procurement, Food, Food Programs, Homeless & Housing, Housing Expense Reduction Support, Job Training

Mission: Provide food and emergency assistance to meet basic human needs and long-term solutions to break the cycle of dependence.

Programs: See schedule othe organization operates a food center, where volunteers cook and serve seven hot, nutritional meals weekly to those less fortunate in the community (lunches from monday through saturday and a thursday family night dinner). Volunteers also distribute grocery bags containing food staples (meat, fruit, produce, dairy, bread and other food items) to eligible low income individuals and families from monday to saturday and deliver lunches to the homebound. Eligibility is monitored very closely. During 2014, the organization prepared and served approximately 53,000 hot meals and distributed nearly 67,000 grocery food bags to the working poor, unemployed, disabled, homebound and homeless, including delivery of nearly 6,000 hot meals to the homebound. The organization recovered more than 1,800,000 pounds of food from supermarkets, restaurants, individuals, businesses, governmental agencies and other organizations. The organization also administers bhh backpacks, which addresses the critical problem of what low income school children eat on weekends; i. E. , those who receive their primary meal each weekday through free and reduced school lunch programs. Each friday during the school year, the organization provides six meals, two snacks and two juice boxes in backpacks to hundreds of eligible school children who attend eight area elementary schools to take home for the weekend. The organization purchases the food and then delivers the appropriate amount of each food item to each of the schools on a weekly basis during the academic school year. Volunteers from local faith communities and other organizations have "adopted" these schools and committed their financial resources as well as the manpower needed to pack the backpacks each week. The specific food items used in the backpacks cost approximately $6 per child/per week. During 2014, the organization incurred approximately $135,000 in food purchases in connection with this program.

see schedule othe organization provides a variety of resources to clients who are boca raton residents and who are facing financial difficulties, including assistance in preparing a realistic monthly budget so they can meet their financial obligations and suggesting numerous alternatives or referrals to other organizations to alleviate their financial burden. The organization offers limited financial aid in crisis situations, principally for assistance with rent (clients must have a 3-day notice from the landlord); utilities (clients must have a final notice from the electric or water authority); medicines (excluding anti-depressants and pain medicines the client must have a doctor's prescription); and bus passes to a place of employment or doctor's appointment. Not all clients qualify, nor are funds available to assist every qualified applicant. The organization has the final determination of the amount of financial aid rendered, if any. During 2014, the organization provided nearly $75,000 in temporary, limited financial assistance to qualified residents of boca raton to alleviate crisis situations by paying bills directly to landlords, utility companies and similar enterprises.

see schedule othe organization helps clients become job ready and to apply for employment opportunities. Clients receive personalized assistance from volunteer job mentors in job searching, application assistance, resume writing, cover letter development, interview preparation, and access to computers and fax machines for job search and application purposes. The job mentoring program offers computer classes for those wishing to learn basic computer skills, ms word, or excel. During 2014, the organization's job mentoring program assisted more than 100 individuals in obtaining employment. A key social enterprise program esperanza catering at boca helping hands, empowers clients to become self-sufficient, and take responsibility for their own lives by obtaining gainful employment in order to break the cycle of dependence. Selected clients are carefully screened and, if qualified, they earn a small stipend while gaining skills and experience in the food service/hospitality industry. During 2014, esperanza catering at boca helping hands graduated 46 students who learned life and social skills as well as skills specific to the restaurant industry, including hands-on experience as they catered meals for various organizations and businesses. The program is provided in three-month increments and graduates are guided by the organization in their search for employment with area restaurants, country clubs, and other potential opportunities, thus opening the door for the participants to gain job interviews. A significant percentage of the graduates have been successful in finding employment. Bhh home health care, an initiative which commenced in 2014, focuses on helping eligible clients develop the skills necessary to work in the home health care industry. Selected clients are carefully screened and, if qualified, the organization will pay the tuition & related costs required for a 75 hour training program at a fully licensed and accredited school (approximately $525 per student). If successfully completed, the graduate will receive a certificate as a qualified home health aide. Once they complete the class, they can return to the organization for help with their resumes, interview skills and to receive referrals to local home health care companies which partner with the organization. Those students who demonstrate superior dedication and commitment are encouraged to pursue an advanced 120 hour class leading to certification as certified nursing assistants which generally leads to higher wages as well as greater opportunities for employment and advancement.