New Job Training Center From Boca Helping Hands Set to Open

By: Michael Demyan

Boca Helping Hands will be having a grand opening for their new Justin D. Webb Training Center on Wednesday, February 1.

Since opening its doors in 1998, Boca Helping Hands has been serving hot meals to the Boca Raton community, along with providing support for those who are facing the unfortunate situations of utility cancellation and eviction. Last year, they were also able to open new medical and dental clinics to serve their clients.

Their current job training program has offered free classes to gain skills necessary to become a call center representative, commercial truck driver, help desk technician and home health aide, as well as for positions in hospitality.

Even though these extra services have been available, Boca Helping Hands is still mainly known only for their distribution of food to those in need. They hope that the Justin D. Webb Training Center will change that.

The main focus of providing these services is to go beyond helping the people in the present and  help them have a greater future, by giving them opportunities to live independent lives.

The new center will now be the location for all of the organization’s classes, which will include focus on teaching jobs. Those attending will learn about topics such as computer skills, life skills and GED preparation.

This move will also bring a partnership with Boca Raton Regional Hospital to offer health related classes, informing the students about healthy lifestyles, nutrition and type 2 diabetes.

This expanding venture of Boca Helping Hands was possible because of donations by the Ruth and Hal Launders Charitable Trust and the Goody Two Shoes Foundation.

The ribbon cutting ceremony to dedicate the Justin D. Webb Training Center will begin this Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 4 p.m. Refreshments will be served by students who are currently in the Hospitality Training Program.