BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — With Thanksgiving just over a month away, the nonprofit Boca Helping Hands has launched its 21st annual Thanksgiving Box Brigade, a massive community effort to ensure local families can share a holiday meal. The organization announced today it is seeking public support to provide a turkey and a box of trimmings to families in need, with a goal of feeding approximately 24,000 people across Palm Beach County.
The annual drive comes at a time of heightened financial strain for many residents. According to a 2024 report, 46% of households in Palm Beach County struggle to afford basic necessities, a situation worsened by rising food and housing costs. Boca Helping Hands notes that one in nine people in the county are considered food insecure, underscoring the critical importance of hunger relief programs, especially during the holiday season.
The Thanksgiving Box Brigade provides families with a turkey and a box filled with everything needed to prepare a traditional holiday meal. Boca Helping Hands will distribute the meal kits to its current Pantry Bag Program clients during the weekend before Thanksgiving, on November 22 and 23. The distribution will take place via drive-thru at the organization’s five locations in East Boca Raton, West Boca, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, and Lake Worth.
The program relies heavily on community generosity and corporate sponsorships. “We recognize the difficulties many families are experiencing, and my wife, Anita and I are proud to once again support the Thanksgiving Box Brigade this year,” said Bob Kriensky, an East Boca Raton sponsor. The effort is also supported by Overall Sponsor Dalfen Industrial, Humana, Purity Wholesale Grocers Inc., Vertical Bridge Charitable Network, and Avalon Bay Communities.
While the Thanksgiving drive is a seasonal highlight, the need for assistance is a year-round reality. “We are deeply appreciative of the way that the community helps each year,” said BHH Executive Director Andrew Hagen. “Thanks to them, families who might not have had enough money to afford to celebrate can now share a holiday meal together.” Community members can sponsor a family’s meal for $29.72 by donating at http://www.bocahelpinghands.org/thanksgiving, and any funds raised beyond the program’s expenses will support BHH’s food programs throughout the year.
