Boca Helping Hands celebrated its volunteers during an appreciation dinner entitled “A Night of Hearts” on April 17 at The Addison of Boca Raton, which hosted 200 guests. The Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Michael Moran, and the Mel Lazerick Lifetime Achievement Award went to Patricia McCarthy. Fifteen other individuals and six regular volunteer groups were also recognized for their outstanding service to the organization in 2023.
With a staff of only 25 employees, Boca Helping Hands relies on its over 300 regular volunteers to provide the range of services it offers to clients. Last year, BHH volunteers contributed almost 58,000 hours of their time to assist the organization in serving the community.
The Independent Sector, with the Do Good Institute at the University of Maryland, recently released their 2023 values for volunteer time, estimating an hour of time donated in Florida at $31.61. That adds up to a contribution of over $1.8 million by Boca Helping Hands volunteers last year, making them one of the organization’s most valuable assets.
“Our volunteers provide not only a critical labor force, but they are also a source of inspiration for all of us at BHH,” said Greg Hazle, Executive Director. “Their selfless dedication reminds us all why we do the work we do. That’s why our theme for the event was, “A Night of Hearts.” As the song says, they are ‘the wind beneath our wings.’”
Boca Helping Hands volunteers assist in various roles such as preparing hot meals, processing, and storing food donations, and distributing pantry bags at BHH’s five Palm Beach County locations in East Boca Raton, West Boca, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, and Lake Worth. They also serve as job mentors, instructors for the job training program, and help to administer the organization’s financial assistance programs.
Those interested in volunteering can visit the organization’s website at BocaHelpingHands.org or contact Volunteer Program Manager Nicole Rostant at Nicole@BocaHelpingHands.org.
About Boca Helping Hands
Boca Helping Hands (BHH) is a community-based nonprofit that provides food, medical, and financial assistance to help individuals and families improve their quality of life and build financial stability. Through its various programs, BHH assists more than 35,000 people annually.
Boca Helping Hands is a partner agency of The Town of Palm Beach United Way. Since 1945, the Town of Palm Beach United Way has been committed to improving lives and building strong communities throughout Palm Beach County by focusing on programs and priorities that promote education, health, and financial stability.
Boca Helping Hands holds accreditation for Sound Nonprofit Management from Nonprofits First, has a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid/GuideStar, and has been a Charity Navigator Four-Star Charity for 17 consecutive years. Boca Helping Hands is located at 1500 NW 1st Court, Boca Raton, FL 33432. For more information, please visit BocaHelpingHands.org
