FAU Libraries Community Service Day at Boca Helping Hands

FAU Libraries Community Service Day at Boca Helping Hands was a resounding success. Thirteen library employees joined the nonprofit staff on March 9 in preparing food packages to be distributed across Central and South Palm Beach County to families in need. 

The staff marked for distribution hundreds of products, prepared dozens of bags of bread and cookies, and moved and readied for transport palettes of canned goods. Sixty family bags filled with about two dozen items each are now ready for the residents served by the nonprofit.

Eric Bush, Jaffe Center for Book Arts office manager and coordinator of Library volunteers, said FAU Libraries want to build and strengthen the bonds within the local community. 

"Boca Helping Hands is a great organization that helps not only feed those suffering from economic instability but also educates and trains those in need of assistance. Many of our students are in need, with rising inflation affecting their livelihoods on top of the already burgeoning collegiate costs," he said, adding that FAU's Beyond Food Program currently directs FAU students to BHH as a local resource.

Bush added that Boca Helping Hands have partnered with FAU's Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing in the past to offer free healthcare to the community. 

"FAU Libraries saw this as a natural opportunity to show our support through the efforts of our dedicated staff and faculty. We want to increase the dialog about FAU's commitment to public service and show the worth of FAU Libraries Staff beyond the amazing work they do within the Library. While we may provide the scholastic setting for our students to perform, we recognize it is often the security provided in the environments outside that equally leads to success," Bush said.